2014 Vuelta a Espana, stage 7: Alhendín-Alcaudete (169 km)

[Arredondo]

2014 Vuelta a Espana, stage 7: Alhendín-Alcaudete (169 km)

What's up guys? Not in the mood to make a thread for this?

GC after stage 6

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) 22u48m08s
2. Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) + 15 sec
3. Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) + 18 sec
4. Christopher Froome (Great-Britain/Sky) + 22 sec
5. Johan Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-GreenEDGE) + 41 sec
6. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Team Katusha) + 45 sec
7. Robert Gesink (Netherlands/Belkin) + 55 sec
8. Fabio Aru (Italy/Team Astana) + 58 sec
9. Warren Barguil (France/Team Giant) + 1m02s
10. Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands/Belkin) + 1m06s
11. Mikel Nieve (Spain/Sky) + 1m09s
12. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/BMC) + 1m11s
13. Damiano Caruso (Italy/Cannondale) + 1m12s
14. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/OPQS) + 1m18s
15. Sergio Pardilla (Spain/MTN) + 1m19s
16. Daniel Navarro (Spain/Cofidis) + 1m26s
17. Daniel Martin (Ireland/Garmin) + 1m37s
18. Mikel Landa (Spain/Astana) + 1m47s
19. Winner Anacona (Colombia/Lampre) + 1m57s
20. Daniel Moreno (Spain/Team Katusha) + 2m06s

Coverage: http://www.steephill.tv/vuelta-a-espana/#live
Preview: http://www.c-cycling.com/sites/vuelta14/stage6.html

 

[Arredondo]

So last 7 km at roughly 3%, final 2 km at 4%.

Chance for Matthews, Gilbert, Martin or Valverde to shine if a big group will fight for the win.

But imo a breakaway is most likely scenario. Normally this has LL Sanchez written on it. Perhaps Arredondo, Txurukka and that kind of riders will come out and play tomorrow.

Opinion?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I think Movistar should race to win this stage. Perfect for Valverde.

But there are hundreds of uphill sprints left, so they can wait.

Instead this is an opportunity for GC losers to take some time back and the first Cat 3 climb is perfectly located to launch a serious break.

Kangert
Ellisonde
Hejsedal
Talansky
Sicard
etc

This can be raced if the riders bothers and can take the heat.

 

[Jspear]

This is definitely breakaway territory...hard to say who will go for it. I agree that riders who have already lost time might/should go for it. If it comes to a reduced bunch sprint Matthews for the win.

 

[Alcanelo]

Hoping LL Sanchez does something here...

 

[Rollthedice]

Sagan wakes up?

 

[Jspear]

Sagan wakes up?

I just posted this in the Sagan thread.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=1559752&postcount=617

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Lutsenko FTW

 

[Escarabajo]

Serpa and Arredondo on the part of the Colombian contingent.

 

[cineteq]

Sagan wakes up?

Too soon, methinks. 2nd week perhaps?

 

[Dr. Juice]

The climb to the finish (or lets say the last part of the stage) is divided in 3 parts with flat inbetween :

Approximately 13-12 km to go : 1.2 km at 8 %
5-4 km to go : 1.8 km at 6.4 %

Last 2 km at 4 %

 

[Pricey_sky]

If the break doesn't take it then it will be between Matthews and Gilbert for the win.

 

[Coat-O]

Garmin needs a moral boost. Hejsedal should be in the break.

Dan Martin could take some bonus seconds if the break get caught.

 

[Piti4Podiums]

If the break doesn't take it then it will be between Matthews and Gilbert for the win.

Leaving aside that Gilbert is always an option for those finishes, he has shown absolutely nothing recently to suppose he is in contention for tomorrow. Still of course, I wouldn't rule him out.

Of course, I hope that Balaverde is still hungry.

 

[cineteq]

Garmin needs a moral boost. Hesjedal should be in the break.

Dan Martin could take some bonus seconds if the break get caught.

It makes sense, but they've managed to screw up opportunities. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they do it again.

 

[VeloHuman]

A good first opportunity to see who the stronger long-range protagonists for the rest of the race will be.

 

[manafana]

scratching my head for this one, little chance that we could see a break go but also chance we get chance for some very different riders.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Leaving aside that Gilbert is always an option for those finishes, he has shown absolutely nothing recently to suppose he is in contention for tomorrow. Still of course, I wouldn't rule him out.

Of course, I hope that Balaverde is still hungry.

Only 2 days ago he finished 7th, only because he went really early in the sprint having followed De Kort's leadout. He could have finished a couple of places higher but gave up in the final metres.

Just a little hint from him that perhaps he is starting to find some form at the right time of year again.

 

[Shardi]

Only 2 days ago he finished 7th, only because he went really early in the sprint having followed De Kort's leadout. He could have finished a couple of places higher but gave up in the final metres.

Just a little hint from him that perhaps he is starting to find some form at the right time of year again.

Think you are on to something. He looked good on stage 5. It was just too flat to beat the likes of Degenkolb and he went very early. Form is definitely on the rise. Hopefully we see a 2012 developement of form.

This sort of rise to the finish is difficuly to assess.. Alot of sprinty guys can hang on with the right shelter on these low gradients. last KMs slightly steeper but it is still not much. Might see both degenkolb and matthews contesting. Prob one of those unless noone chases the break or the long-range attack but, Gilbert will probably be in the mix.

 

[BeagRigh]

Movistar probably want to save there matches; if things go as they plan they going to spend a long time defending have Red, either with Valverde or Quintana.

Therefore I think they'll let a decent break go.

 

[ILovecycling]

Serpa and Arredondo on the part of the Colombian contingent.

I hope these two and LL will try something

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

17 try to escape, according to biciciciciclismo

 

[ILovecycling]

17 try to escape, according to biciciciciclismo

to much cicici

yeah,good stage for breakaway,these are always tough to get in the break.

 

[BeagRigh]

17 try to escape, according to biciciciciclismo

Now caught I think.

 

[Arredondo]

After seen the final climb on Strava, i have to say it has some difficult parts in it.

The Camino Santa Catalina (which is the hardest part of the climb to Alcaudete) is 2.9 km at 5%, but has a couple of parts where it's between 10-13%.

I hope we'll get some attacks by GC men who lost time today. Or a surprise attack by Alberto