When we introduced the Tour 2023 we talked about revolution, well for the Return we can only repeat this term. Aso, the company that organizes the two major Tours, has surprised us again. Perhaps the revolution here in Spain has been a little less pronounced simply because "experiments" have been conducted on the Iberian route for years, but there are new features for 2023. And they're not small.
Stefano Garzelli We often involve him, especially when Spain is involved, since he's lived there for years. He has a team there, knows the roads and the riders. And above all, because he's also ridden the Vuelta. And he also says: "It's a spectacular Vuelta. Very, very tough. The toughest in the last 20 years. First, second, and third weeks: you can never relax. You always have to be careful."
The kilometers are decreasing
But what are these new developments that still make us talk about a revolution? The layout of the stages, first and foremost. A high-altitude finish on the third stage, then another uphill finish on the sixth, and so on… Decisive stages that are very short. And then the finale: the last tough mountain stage is the 17th. Which wouldn't be a complete novelty, except that in these cases, the penultimate or final stage features a potentially decisive time trial. But there's no time trial! In its place, a stage that could turn everything around.
In short, the Vuelta Espana 2023, scheduled from August 26 to September 17, offers 21 stages for a total of 3.153,8 kilometers Starting in Barcelona and finishing in Madrid. In between: two time trials (one opening team stage and one individual stage), 10 uphill stages, seven of which are in the mountains.
Meanwhile, life is tough for sprinters: only 5 stages and in a couple of them they will have to sweat for the sprint finish. There are two classic rest days: after stage 9 (before the individual time trial) and after stage 15.
And still in terms of revolution, the mileage drops a lot. Since 2021, the Spanish race has lost 264 kilometers (3.417 in 2021; 3.283 in 2022 and 3.153 in 2023). In practice, well beyond one stage, almost two, given that the average distance in 2023 is 150,1 kilometers per stage.
After the World Cup…
Garzelli spoke of maximum attention. Looking at the profiles of the hamlets it can only be so, but the floor plans will also have an impact.
"The Tarragona and Zaragoza stages," explains the 2000 pink jersey winner, "are flat, yes, but also very windy. In those areas, the wind is almost never lacking. In my opinion, it's a Vuelta that can be lost any day, a rule that always applies, but this time more than ever.
«I believe that the fact that it comes after the World Cup has pushed the organizers to "put in" everything. It's true that perhaps this choice didn't concern the top-seeded players so much, but partly them too... if only because there was a bit of a respite.
«Given the hardness, even of the third week, I don't think that anyone who does the Tour will be able to expect to do well at the Vuelta, especially if they also have to participate in the World Championships in between. I see the combination with the as much more feasible Giro d'Italia. There would be time to recover and prepare again."
Not only Angliru and Tourmalet
But Vuelta rhymes with climbs. We were talking about ten finishes with the road going uphill.
«Angliru and Tourmalet are two icons. The Tourmalet especially. I haven't raced up that side, but I know it very well. I remember I was doing a reconnaissance for RAI, we finished at 10:30 PM, and the sun was still shining at the summit. Incidentally, at the summit I also met a boy who cycles at the Valencian school. It's a wild climb that's always been the scene of great battles like the one between Contador and Schleck. But I wouldn't think only of these two climbs."
«The third stage in Andorra is already very tough. The finale is quite tough. The riders know those roads well because many live there. The Alto de Javalambre is also tough: it climbs in bursts and reaches nearly 2.000 meters above sea level.
«But above all, be careful when climbing Xorret de Catì, Stage 8. The finish line is 3 kilometers later, downhill, but there are killer slopes. The last 3 kilometers of climbing are at 18 percent. If you remember, it's the climb where Roscioli went up in a zigzag. Stage 14, designed by Indurain, is also beautiful. They were his lands. Yesterday they presented it with him and Delgado."
Final and teams
As we anticipated if the big climbs end with the Angliru (17th fraction), the difficulties no. And maybe everything can be put back into play.
«And then – Garzelli underlines – there is the twentieth stage, that of Guadarrama: 208 kilometers, the longest (and the only one over 200 kilometers, ed.) with 4.300 meters of altitude difference and third-category climbs on a circuit to be repeated five times. A stage like this, if the standings were still open, risks changing everything. It's incredibly tough, and the team will count for a lot. But I doubt the captains will still have all seven of their teammates at the twentieth stage.
«It is no coincidence that yesterday at the presentation when they interviewed a Mas (typical old farm), Soler e Juan Pedro Lopez placeholder image everyone was impressed by this fraction."
Finally, a look at the favorites. The team will count for a lot and in theory UAE Emirates, Ineos Grenadiers e Jumbo Visma they would still be the favorites, but this could be the right time for Enric Mas according to Garzelli.
«For me – concludes Stefano – there are only 25 kilometers of time trial and assuming that the other greats are at the Tour, Mas can and must focus heavily on it. Then to the Movistar They don't have many leaders for a grand Giro and I don't know who they would bring to the Tour besides Mas. This is his chance."
