2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 8: Jerez de la Frontera → Alto Peñas Blancas (166 kms)

[Descender]

2013 Vuelta a España, Stage 8: Jerez de la Frontera → Alto Peñas Blancas (166 kms)

I figured I'd do this.

First mountain finish of this year's edition.

Profile of the climb (only until Puerto de Peñas Blancas). It's 14 kms at 6,8%.

Weather: The weather will be sunny in almost all day with some partially cloudy sky spells on the central part of the journey and in the last climb to Peñas Blancas only.

Winds: Wind will be light except on the latest 40 kms where the wind will be rather strong. It will blow Easterly wind on the almost all journey, that is to say contrary from the departure to Arcos de la Frontera, contrary and from left side later as far as the arrival to the coast, from right side later as far as Estepona and favourable on the last climbing to Peñas Blancas.

Temperatures: Between 29ºC and 27ºC decreasing to 20ºC in the final summit of Peñas Blancas.

 

[Descender]

By the way, the stage route has been changed since the route was first announced. Apparently Unipublic thought the original one was too tough and decided to make it pancake flat until the final climb. This was the stage as it was originally designed:

And the final design again:

 

[murali]

Thank you for giving the details for tomorrow.

They should have left the initial design. it could have been a bit more interesting with a break getting a chance to win.

nasty climb. quintana for the win!

oops, i forgot quintana is not here. this is going to be between j-rod and valverde

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Nibali will be blown out of the water by Purito and Valverde

 

[Ruby United]

JRod to storm last km.

Valverde take the jersey, Nibali lose some time.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

The new route has more chance of being selective because it goes along the coast, and it's going to be windy tomorrow.

 

[SafeBet]

Vuelta a Murito starts tomorrow.

 

[Rollthedice]

Nibali will be blown out of the water by Purito and Valverde

Don't be so sure. I think he'll still be in red after tomorrows stage.

 

[jens_attacks]

purito to be dropped and lose time, nibali too

ivan basso takes the stage win and chris horner the red jersey. zubeldia to do well too
it should be good anyway

 

[murali]

from what we have seen so far in this vuelta, it might be another vino win

 

[airstream]

Nothing to happen 8-10 climbers to finish together.

 

[Netserk]

Nothing to happen 8-10 climbers to finish together.

You do know which way the wind is blowing?

 

[murali]

will basque team give us a good result to cherish their memory?

 

[Red Rick]

Pathetic first 150 km, too bad they don't do the full climb (which they do a bit too often for my liking this Vuelta)

 

[Red Rick]

You do know which way the wind is blowing?

Cross/tailwind? How is the wind on the climb?

 

[Afrank]

Purito if it's a select group sprint. If someone decides to go for it then maybe a solo winner. Perhaps Pozzovivo.

Hoping for the Carrots to start employing a go out with a bang attacking strategy.

 

[Netserk]

Cross/tailwind? How is the wind on the climb?

Tailwind on the climb makes it more selective.

 

[murali]

how is the chance for the colombian climbers?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Think J-Rod will deploy similar tactics as in the Tour, i.e. wait until final week before hitting the high notes.

Instead I see Konig trying again. Maybe Pinot if he hasn't crashed on the tiny downhill 70km from the finish line.

 

[Descender]

Pathetic first 150 km, too bad they don't do the full climb (which they do a bit too often for my liking this Vuelta)

In fairness, there isn't really much space at the top for a finish line.

 

[LaFlorecita]

purito to be dropped and lose time, nibali too

ivan basso takes the stage win and chris horner the red jersey. zubeldia to do well too
it should be good anyway

Basso ftw would be great But I think Purito will take it

 

[Ruby United]

Think J-Rod will deploy similar tactics as in the Tour, i.e. wait until final week before hitting the high notes

In the Tour JRod just had a problem finding form early on, however after a long tour, where he hit form first on Mont Ventoux and is trying to carry it over all the way to now, surely he will be on form best at in the first 2 weeks, and start to fade a bit in the 3rd?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Probably JRod, but i hope for a Basso/Nibali combo to make the spaniards look like amateurs

 

[BigMac]

Obvious Michel Kreder win is obvious.




Valverde

 

[Hugo Koblet]

A shame they don't just start the stage at the bottom of the climb.