2014 Vuelta a Espana, Stage 11: Pamplona - Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar 153.4KM

[Red Rick]

As you'd expect from me, I'm to lazy to make my own previews when starting stage threads, so I'll borrow this one from Arnout.

Stage 11, Wednesday September 3 | Pamplona - Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar | 153.4km Stage URL

Timetrial out of the way, its time to kickstart this race with a stage starting in the bull fighting city of Pamplona. As the Vuelta seems happy to avoid the home of Spanish cycling, the Basque country, again, expect to see a lot of Basque fans lining up on the final climb near the border of their territory. That will give some color to the final ascent in what is a typical day in the Vuelta, certainly once we enter the September month. An easy and short stage followed by a tough mountain top finish apparently gives the most bang for the bucks for the Spanish organizers and TV broadcaster. Be that as it may, this should be a good final climb. It's the longest so far and its irregularity coupled to an average gradient of 7.5% will test the riders in ever-changing circumstances. The first real time differences in the mountains will appear and I will go on a bit of limb here, but I'd say after this stage it should be quite easy to predict the winner of the Vuelta, or certainly the two riders that are going to battle it out until the end, a direct result of a route like this in which riders are tested on one speciality alone.

Final climb, the Alto de San Miguel de Aralar (9.9km, 7.5%):

First big mountain finish. Froome has proven to be to weak, Quintana's chances likely meet their unfortunate end in the tt today, Contador is in the drivers seat, with Purito and Valverde going strong. Knowing Contador, there's a chance the breakaway will fight for the stage win. I expect Purito to put in an attack. If he feels up to it, The Great One himself will go ahead, and show he is the rightful leader of this Vuelta.

 

[cineteq]

Climbs' Preview by Perico Delgado and Miguel Indurain
http://youtu.be/y4PFFcUd03k

 

[Walkman]

No stage profile. Please add one. The link is dead.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

The angels first of many stage victories

Finally, a proper mountain...ish

 

[SafeBet]

I'mexpecting Aru to attack tomorrow.

 

[Arnout]

Red Rick, if you change the part of the link where it says "14pr" to "14" the links will work.

 

[jens_attacks]

chaves wins

or samu sanchez wins in big style

or fabio aru.

i hope for fireworks on this. i expect purito to get close to his best level, might drop alberto

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto for the win (the best defense is a good offense) or Purito to beat him in the sprint. Valverde might be up there too. I would also love to see Aru or little Chaves take it.

 

[damian13ster]

Chaves from breakaway (he seemed to be resting today).
Contador best from GC contenders, by at least 20 seconds

 

[Arredondo]

Purito or Contador if the favorites will fight for the win.

If it's a break, then good old Cadel is going to shine.

 

[BigMac]

Chaves from breakaway (he seemed to be resting today).
Contador best from GC contenders, by at least 20 seconds

Not resting, he was just crap.

 

[Red Rick]

Red Rick, if you change the part of the link where it says "14pr" to "14" the links will work.

Thank you

 

[Coat-O]

Valverde is not far behind Contador. He will definitely go for the bonus seconds and stage win.

Purito needs bonus seconds (and stage win) if he want to challenge Contador for overall.

Froome might try something at 2 km mark. But I don't think he's strong enough to get rid of the top 5-10 guys this time.

Alberto will not attack yet. I think he's waiting for the third week.

Don't know how hurt Quintana. He is not going to attack. If he gets over the top with the GC group, it's a victory.

Uran will not attack yet, but defend his GC.

Aru could attack, but I don't think he is as strong as in the Giro. He is still very young. Two GC's in one year is undoubtedly hard for an inexperienced rider.

Sanchez and Gesink will be dropped for sure, but I don't think they will lose many GC spots.

 

[Netserk]

Contador, Valverde or breakaway for the win.

 

[sir fly]

One more stage for the breakaway. Tinkoff team will gladly let it down the road and I doubt Katusha or Movistar will bother chasing it since they need much more than bonus seconds to dislodge Contador.

 

[Parrulo]

I think this will go the the break.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

J-Rod will do his thing and take the win from a bit of sprinting at the end.
Valverde 2nd. Contador will play it safely and come 3rd.

Uran and Froome will drop a bit more time. Drip, drip, drip.....

Stage very difficult to race imo, it will take immense break action to get it going.

 

[Netserk]

 

[damian13ster]

I think this will go the the break.

I am kind of hoping that Katusha and Movistar will ride this really hard to isolate Contador early on the climb.
Will be interesting to see what Lampre does. I think Anacona will fade in this stage and not having a strong rider in the break for possible stage win would be a mistake.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador will be happy to let the break go. I think that if he's not attacked too hard and feels good, he'll go himself. Quintana will most likely be licking his wounds, and if Contador can finish him and or Froome off for the rest of the race it only makes the remainder of this Vuelta a lot easier.

 

[ILovecycling]

breakaway ftw
pray for quintana to not to be dropped,then we can talk about fun...

or we need some rujano to have fun cuz alberto will be monster in coming stages.

 

[Netserk]

Remember that Contador has never lost a leader's jersey in a GT before, so I doubt that will happen tomorrow.

 

[Parrulo]

I am kind of hoping that Katusha and Movistar will ride this really hard to isolate Contador early on the climb.
Will be interesting to see what Lampre does. I think Anacona will fade in this stage and not having a strong rider in the break for possible stage win would be a mistake.

Expecting good tactical racing from Movistar is like expecting Froome to suddenly look good on a bike, it's just not going to happen.

 

[BigMac]

Quintana abandons tomorrow. The second Valverdian Empire rises.

 

[Red Rick]

Quintana abandons tomorrow. The second Valverdian Empire rises.

Lol, I'm slowly starting to find you amusing