2014 Vuelta Stage 3: Cadiz - Arcos de la Frontera

[greenedge]

Sagan based on Chieti should take this and hope he does.
Challenges from Valverde,Matthews and maybe Kelderman?

 

[murali]

Last year, I would have said Sagan FTW.
OGE had got into the knack of getting a solid GT win earlier on.

Heart says: Bling!

 

[jens_attacks]

this is for bala or dani moreno

 

[Jagartrott]

I think sagan is the best rider at blasting up a sort of 7-8% gradient for up to a km or so. This finish looks ideal for him

Based on?
I think this kind of gradient should be ideal for Gilbert, but I don't know if he already has the form. Evans usually also does well on such slopes, but again, how is his form?

 

[laurel1969]

Sagan will be 2nd

 

[Arredondo]

Sagan based on Chieti should take this and hope he does.
Challenges from Valverde,Matthews and maybe Kelderman?

Because today's climb is comparable to Chieti

Why Kelderman? I can name 20 more logical candidates.

 

[Eclipse]

Pretty decent stage on paper.

Another 2nd for Sagan would make me giggle

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Degenkolb FTW

 

[Asturiano]

This is the place where the stage starts:

In the navy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7Z7S-sHYE

 

[SKSemtex]

Sagan either wins it or not contesting at all in the end. 50/50

I all bet some money on him, Gilbert and Valverde.

 

[Shardi]

Sagan either wins it or not contesting at all in the end. 50/50

I all bet some money on him, Gilbert and Valverde.

Don't think Gilbert is up to speed yet. The finish looks like a slightly less steep Cauberg, but there last 40km is slightly downhill which make for good recovery for "sprinters who can climb". The obstacle for those riders will be a cenario where some team drills the pace in the middle section of the stage (movistar for valverde).

Have a feeling its gonna be the Valverde show. He is just always in good condition and the notion of winning in the red jersey will spur him and the team on. Wouldve been cool to see Gilbert break him like it usually goes in limburg, but the condition is not there yet..

 

[Fzotrlool]

Depends on whether they are racing it conservatively or not.

Gilbert has to try something.

 

[Rollthedice]

The red jersey is up for grabs for Sagan and Bling. Also there's an opportunity for Valverde to increase his advantage over the GC guys. Gilbert is another favorite while I think Degenkolb will be distanced before the final short flat.

 

[icefire]

This is the place where the stage starts:

In the navy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7Z7S-sHYE

I'm still wondering why Gillen hasn't set up a stage finish in that take-off ramp

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Good chance of time gaps at the end for anyone not paying attention so will be interesting to see which GC guys are following easiest

 

[SeriousSam]

Looks ideal for Sagan so he'll be 2nd. Valverde for the win.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Who the **** is Bling?

 

[No_Balls]

Matthews.

10 char

 

[sir fly]

It would have been a perfect stage design if the Alto del Camino and Puerto del Boyar were 20 kilometers closer to the same finish. It would have given a bigger chance to a breakaway, which would consequently speed up the pace in the peloton keeping an interesting mix of riders for the finale... with the breakaway still ahead, don't forget.
This way, with almost 50 kilometers from the top of Boyar to the end, it's hard to imagine a breakaway surviving and anything else but disentanglement in the last couple of kilometers.

 

[Arredondo]

It's perhaps more difficult then it looks on profile.

I think Bala will have a big chance to win, idem Sagan (if he wants), Gilbert or Moreno.

 

[Asturiano]

He is ready to start the stage.

All of them.

Go Contador.

 

[Fzotrlool]

It's perhaps more difficult then it looks on profile.

I think Bala will have a big chance to win, idem Sagan (if he wants), Gilbert or Moreno.

The road looks narrow. Maybe the guy with your profile name could to well.

Fabian as well. He's a good downhill.

 

[No_Balls]

Break:

D.Wyss (SUI), BMC Racing
J.Fumeaux (SUI), IAM Cycling
J.Janse Van Rensburg (RSA), Team MTN
J.Cousin (FRA), Europcar
L.Mas (ESP), Caja Rural

5´34 to the peloton. Early days yet.

 

[Arredondo]

The road looks narrow. Maybe the guy with your profile name could to well.

Fabian as well. He's a good downhill.

You mean the downhill after the Puerto de Boyar? Or the downhill in the last km? The last one is only 300 meters and not steep. The guy who's got a advantage over the top, looks certain to win this.

 

[McLovin]

The final climb is 1.5km at 5.5% according to bikeandhikeroute.