2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 20: Avilés→Alto de L´Angliru (142 Km)

[Afrank]

2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 20: Avilés→Alto de L´Angliru (142 Km)

It's here, the Alto de L´Angliru, a climb hard enough to make even the hardest of riders shake in fear. A climb meant to rival Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France and the Mortirolo Pass and Monte Zoncolan in the Giro d'Italia. A climb who's inclusion in the race and the pelotons opinion of is summed up well by Vicente Belda when he said “What do they want, blood?” Yes, we want blood, and if there's one way to get it, that would be including Angliru.

"You go at 9 kilometers an hour. It's hell. There’s nothing remotely like it," said Roberto Heras, winner on the Angliru in 2002.

"We’re not animals and this is inhuman," David Millar cursed while refusing to cross the finish line in 2002.

Forget what the GC looks like now, because a single bad day for a contender on the slopes of Angliru could result in minutes lost. The race isn't over in any sense until they get to the top of Angliru.

Alto del Cordal: 5.3 km, 510m vertical gain, 9.6% average, 12.14% max grade

Alto de L'Angliru: 12.2 km, 1245m vertical gain, 10.2% average, 23.5% max grade

"Angliru starts off relatively easy - the average gradient on the first 5 km is 7.6 %, enough to hurt but well within the realms of rideable for a professional. The sixth kilometre is easy, flattening for a while and even descending for a short way. From then on, it gets tough. Very tough. The average gradient for the last 6 km is 13.1 %, beginning to stretch the boundaries of what can be done - but, as if that wasn't harsh enough, there's the Cueña les Cabres 3 km from the top with a gradient of 23.8 %."

Previous winners
1999 José Maria Jiménez (ESP)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS8ZOH3QtII
2000 Gilberto Simoni (ITA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvgT10gjFI
2002 Roberto Heras (ESP)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl5u2AV5xCo
2008: Contador
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqe0Fs6NNj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX5KEBJ3Vlw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnr5WVZP1Bk
2011: Cobo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoeuRAn7_6E

For more on Angliru this is a good piece on it from "Killing Monte Zoncolan."
http://killingmontezoncolan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/alto-de-langliru-vuelta-alto-de.html

General Classification after Stage 19
1. HORNER, Christopher (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) 77:56:05
2. NIBALI, Vincenzo (ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 3
3. VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 1:06
4. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 1:57
5. ROCHE, Nicolas (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 3:49
6. POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 6:00
7. KONIG, Leopold (NETAPP - ENDURA) + 6:38
8. PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ) + 7:02
9. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 7:45
10. MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel (KATUSHA) + 11:05
11. KANGERT, Tanel (ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 11:18
12. SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 12:13
13. HERRADA LOPEZ, José (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 12:53
14. ARROYO DURAN, David (CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) + 15:55
15. NERZ, Dominik (BMC RACING) + 18:52
16. KISERLOVSKI, Robert (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 20:11
17. SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 21:33
18. CARDOSO, Andre Fernando S. Martins (CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) + 24:29
19. CAPECCHI, Eros (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 25:06
20. BAGOT, Yohan (COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS) + 28:46

http://www.lavuelta.com/13/imgtiempo/etp20.gif

Weather: There will be partially cloudy sky with alternating sunny and cloudy sky at intervals. There will be mostly cloudy and overcast sky on the L’Angliru’s climb. Fog is expected in the summit of L’Angliru High. Rain could precipitate after 18h.

Winds: The wind will be light in all this stage. It will blow from Northwest in almost all this journey. It will be very variable for the riders because this very variable itinerary.

Temperatures: There will be mild sensation as far as L’Angliru climb, ranging from 22ºC in the lowest stretches to 16ºC as minimum. Cold and 10ºC are expected in the summit of L’Angliru.

 

[Afrank]

The Contenders

Chris Horner

Vincenzo Nibali

Alejandro Valverde

Joaquim Rodriguez

Others possible contenders include: Pinot, Pozzovivo, Roche, Sanchez, Txurruka, Cardoso, Arroyo, Anton, Konig, Scarponi, Moreno, Henao, Uran, or perhaps a lesser known rider from the break.

 

[Bavarianrider]

That's the golden jersey for Horner!!!

 

[Gloin22]

For the stage win:

Horner vs Rodriguez

Horner easily wins the red, Purito moves into podium of the GC.

Not much else. Same as previous days. Nibali on similar level to Valverde.

 

[Afrank]

Hmm, who do I think will win this? You know what! F*ck it! Nibali to attack at the base of the climb and solo to a stage and overall win!

The base of Alto del Cordal that is.

 

[il_cobra]

The Contenders
Alejandro Valverde

omg what an irrelevant picture you posted

 

[Broth3r]

I doubt we'll see the day a break wins on the Angliru.

I've got no predictions whatsoever. Even Nibs has a chance. He looks completely toast, but he was dropped in the last stages by steady high paces over small climbs. Such a rhythm is impossible to hold on the Angliru, so we'll have to see how he handles that monster.
Horner and J-Rod looking like the strongest men right now, Valverde is probably the biggest outsider in the top 4, but I would rule him out either.

It's a riddle. It's impossible. And that's why I love it.


Also, Cordal amuses me. It's one those mysteries of nature. Geographically close, not overtly long for it's category, but with grueling ramps. It's like the Angliru's little bro.

 

[Afrank]

omg what an irrelevant picture you posted

Why? I just looked for shots of the top 4 winning.

Edit: on my ride I just realized what you meant.

 

[SafeBet]

Even Nibs has a chance. He looks completely toast, but he was dropped in the last stages by steady high paces over small climbs.

Not yesterday. He was dropped by a furious acceleration of Papi Horner on the steepest ramp.

 

[jens_attacks]

papy goes for heras record i think
at least top 5 i'd say

1. 2000: 41:55 Roberto Heras 18.32 km/h
2. 2008: 43:12 Alberto Contador 17.78 km/h
3. 2000: 43:24 Pavel Tonkov 17.70 km/h
4. 2000: 43:24 Roberto Laiseka 17.70 km/h
5. 2008: 43:54 Alejandro Valverde 17.49 km/h

http://climbing-records.blogspot.COM/2013/09/defying-gravity-top-50-fastest-ascents.html

 

[roundabout]

For the stage win:

Horner vs Rodriguez

Horner easily wins the red, Purito moves into podium of the GC.

Not much else. Same as previous days. Nibali on similar level to Valverde.

Careful. Angliru is much more than doing a 1km sprint uphill at 35 km/h like Murito today.

 

[Arredondo]

Horner will win this, i can't see Purito win it on a climb like this. I mean, he is this Vuelta weaker than Chrissie on this kind of climbs, i can't see that changed in a day. Hopefully Purito kan overtake Piti.

 

[Ruby United]

4th podium in a row for Rod???

 

[Asturiano]

I doubt we'll see the day a break wins on the Angliru.

I've got no predictions whatsoever. Even Nibs has a chance. He looks completely toast, but he was dropped in the last stages by steady high paces over small climbs. Such a rhythm is impossible to hold on the Angliru, so we'll have to see how he handles that monster.
Horner and J-Rod looking like the strongest men right now, Valverde is probably the biggest outsider in the top 4, but I would rule him out either.

It's a riddle. It's impossible. And that's why I love it.


Also, Cordal amuses me. It's one those mysteries of nature. Geographically close, not overtly long for it's category, but with grueling ramps. It's like the Angliru's little bro.

The thing is you have a lot of first and special climbs category before these two climbs to choose with no flat road between them.

In fact, this was the original stage when "Angliru" was discovered:

San Lorenzo (Special category)-Cobertoria (First category)-Cordal (First category)-Angliru (Special category)

 

[Asturiano]

And then Angliru:

As you can see on this pic, there are many options:

 

[Hugo Koblet]

That's the golden jersey for Horner!!!

You posted the exact same thing in the stage thread. What does it mean? I mean, surely you're looking for some kind of reaction...

 

[Gloin22]

Careful. Angliru is much more than doing a 1km sprint uphill at 35 km/h like Murito today.

Purito's looking again like he timed his peak best of all contenders bar Horner.

 

[murali]

thank you afrank, for adding the poll as well.


I voted for the only youngster who peaks only for third week. The other youngster will expand his lead to 1 min+.


having said all this, my heart says Roche comes in 3 min ahead of others, and takes podium.

Among top-5, roche is the only person that the likes of nibali and purito will allow to pass.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Any potential for Nibali to attack over the top of Cordal and pinch a bit of time on the descent ?

He could do with a return to the weather from last weekend but it looks like it's probably going to be ok

 

[jens_attacks]

i think nibali loses podium tomorrow

1.horner
2.rodriguez+0;30
3.valverde +2:00

nibali to lose around three minutes to papy even if he will probably attack him on the cordal descent

 

[classicomano]

Horner dropping everyone with a big smile on his face. Setting the new record on Angry Lou.

 

[Asturiano]

Looks like 51 cyclist have said good bye to Vuelta.

Tst 1 = 1
Lam 1 = 1
Sky 1 = 1
Ast 1 = 1
Vcd 1 = 1
Cof 1 = 1
Arg 1 = 1
Mov 1 = 1
Cjr 1 = 1
Kat 1 = 1

Bmc 1+1 = 2
Tne 1+1 = 2
Rlt 1+1 = 2
Alm 1+1 = 2
Can 1+1 = 2

Fdj 1+1+1 = 3

Grs 1+1+1+1 = 4
Oge 1+1+1+1 = 4

Bel 1+1+1+1+1 = 5
Opq 1+1+1+1+1 = 5
Vcd 1+1+1+1+1 = 5
Ltb 1+1+1+1+1 = 5

 

[R0BL4MBT0N]

Angry Lou.

except it's Angliru not Angrilu...

 

[Shardi]

Horner gon' go sub 42 on this one. He has been waiting his turn, winning sh*t races in the US for almost a decade trying to glance through the thick shadow of what used to be ol' Lance.

He is on his last (yeah lets be realistic here) straw, stronger than ever. He will bag this GT. Forever relegating bottle behind him in the pecking order. Go out with a bang.

 

[Descender]

Purito to win the stage and the Vuelta.