2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 18: Burgos-Peña Cabarga (186.5 km)

[Arredondo]

2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 18: Burgos-Peña Cabarga (186.5 km)

We all know the Vuelta is going to be decided in the next three days. Tomorrow, part one, to the gruelling Peña Cabarga!

Finish is expected between 17.27 and 17.54 CET

Before the 6 k long Peña Cabarga, the riders have to tackle four categorised climbs, with the Caracol (2nd category) as the hardest one. This climb is 10 k long with a gradient of 6.5%. Expect a good breakaway up the road, but this one will be for the GC guys, because Purito and Piti still do not have a stage win, and both will find a climb tailor made for them

GC after Stage 17
1 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 68:50:29
2 HORNER Chris RadioShack - Leopard 0:28
3 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 1:14
4 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 2:29
5 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 3:43
6 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 5:09
7 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 6:08
8 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 6:17
9 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi 7:33
10 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team 10:52

My prediction;

1. Purito
2. Piti
3. Horner
4. Pozzovivo
5. Nibali

Two times the Vuelta has finished on this climb (2010 and 2011)

Purito master in 2010;

The heroïc fight between Froome and Cobo in 2011

 

[Cyivel]

In the words of David Harmon 2 years ago 'Come on Christopher'.

 

[Moviefan1203]

Go, Chris, Go!!!!

 

[Gloin22]

You remember last finish here ?

Cobo vs Froome.

 

[Afrank]

Purito to finally get a win, Nibali not far behind.

And a gap ranging from 20-30 seconds to the others.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Easy win for Nibbles is easy

 

[Netserk]

Purito master in 2010;

Is that a Livestrong wristband?

Another reason to dislike Purito....

 

[Arredondo]

Is that a Livestrong wristband?

Another reason to dislike Purito....

The other reasons are obvious

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

This will be great. Purito FTW

 

[phanatic]

I just hope Cance doesn't win it. I can just see him chasing down Horner so Purito can't win the stage.

 

[Carols]

Purito FTW...

Lo Squalo to ride Strongly

 

[all_in]

I just hope Cance doesn't win it. I can just see him chasing down Horner so Purito can't win the stage.

Cancellara will not start tomorrow.

 

[jonjungel]

I just hope Cance doesn't win it. I can just see him chasing down Horner so Purito can't win the stage.

I'm pretty sure you can relax. Cancellara will not win this.
First, the climb is way too long for him to keep up with the GC guys.
Second, he is no longer in the race.
As for Cancellara chasing down Horner so Purito can't win the stage...

Edit: I see all_in beat me to it.

 

[Pippo_San]

Nibbles ---- ~1 min ---- Piti,Purito ---- ~20 secs Papy Horner, Pinot, Pozzovivo ---- ~1 min ---- Roche and blah blah

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Two times the Vuelta has finished on this climb (2010 and 2011)

False - much like the similar Rifugio Gardeccia (also about 6km and 10%) Peña Cabarga was not a brand new summit but a long-forgotten one when it was included in the 2010 Vuelta.

For the record, the other winner on the climb is Ángel López del Álamo, who won from the break. It was the biggest achievement of his career by far.

 

[icefire]

History lesson for the OP and for anyone else who wrongly think this is the third visit of the Vuelta to Peña Cabarga:

Peña Cabarga hosted a stage finish in 1979. The stage winner was Ángel López del Álamo from a lone break. Van Impe was the first of the GC men and Zoetemelk took the yellow jersey that day till the end of the race.

http://historia.lavuelta.com/es/anio.asp?a=1979

and click on the "Ganad. Etapas" or the "Los líderes" tab.

The Vuelta history page also has a search by climb that at least gives the years each climb has been done.

http://historia.lavuelta.com/es/puertos.asp

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Horner to drop Nibali on the steepest parts

 

[Descender]

Purito.

_____________

 

[Netserk]

 

[cineteq]

This is Valverde's best chance to steal La Vuelta. Will he have the cojones? Not confident enough to tip Purito for the win. Nibali should do very well, not sure about Horner. It should be a dandy!

 

[icefire]

Who plays the highlighter character in the Vuelta?

 

[Ruudz0r]

I hope Pozzovivo will do well.

But Purito is going to win.

 

[willbick]

strange people are tipping nibali for the win when Horner has been stronger on every climb so far

 

[Netserk]

strange people are tipping nibali for the win when Horner has been stronger on every climb so far

That and the fact that Jafferau and Peña Cabarga are very similar.

 

[Swede1]

Purito and piti should fight this one out for the win. I dont think horner is explosive enough to actually get the win on a stage like this, although that would be awesome. So ill say valverde for the win over purito with horner right behind and nibbles a little further back.