2015 Vuelta stage 18: Roa > Riaza 204km

[Flamin]

Alto de Santibañez de Ayllón, 3ª (km 82,8): 1.420 m – 7,8 km – 4 %
Alto del Campanario, 3ª (km 99,5): 1.570 m – 6,5 km – 3,9 %
Puerto de la Quesera, 1ª (km 191): 1.740 m – 10 km – 5,2 %

The Spanish version of a stage to Gap in the Tour. Puerto de la Quesera is officially 10km long but is preceded by very irregular terrain, constantly up an down:

Normally this is a stage for the break but God knows what will happen. It's the Vuelta after all. The big question of course is if Astana will go full Giro-style on Dumoulin here. It's going to be very difficult though to put Dumoulin in trouble. Quesera is a very regular climb: perfect for Tommy.

 

[Merckx index]

Normally this is a stage for the break but God knows what will happen.

Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be...

 

[BigMac]

Break of 20 riders.

 

[DFA123]

Not the easiest descent off the Quesera. Not amazingly technical, but it's a narrow road with some pretty sharp curves and is bumpy; a good descender could definitely pull out a bit of time.

 

[BeagRigh]

Re:

Break of 20 riders.

To hold and fight for stage?

Redundent: How techincal is the last descent? Is the Gap comparision a good one?

I really don't know what to expect here...

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Break of 20 riders.

To hold and fight for stage?

Redundent: How techincal is the last descent? Is the Gap comparision a good one?

I really don't know what to expect here...

The road is not as twisty but the trees are often hiding the way out of every curve.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Break of 20 riders.

To hold and fight for stage?

Redundent: How techincal is the last descent? Is the Gap comparision a good one?

I really don't know what to expect here...

No, the comparison with Gap was more meant as the difficulty of the climb and the distance to the finish from the top the descent isn't as technical as Gap.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Break of 20 riders.

To hold and fight for stage?

Redundent: How techincal is the last descent? Is the Gap comparision a good one?

I really don't know what to expect here...

It's really bumpy and off camber a lot of the time. No problem at all if you're a competent descender, but awkward enough to trouble some riders.

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Break of 20 riders.

To hold and fight for stage?

Redundent: How techincal is the last descent? Is the Gap comparision a good one?

I really don't know what to expect here...

Yes to the first. I like the Gap comparison profile wise, but the Manse descent is more technical than this.

 

[BeagRigh]

Cheers guys, so if Aru get a gap over the top he needs someone to work with on the way down to stand a chance of holding on.... Purito would be the obviously one.

LuLu in the break?

 

[roundabout]

lol at the 'there's an inside of a corner at 11% gradient, let's have it marked' final climb profile

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Cheers guys, so if Aru get a gap over the top he needs someone to work with on the way down to stand a chance of holding on.... Purito would be the obviously one.

LuLu in the break?

I guess it depends how the gap opens up; if it's because Dumoulin is absolutely cooked, he probably won't be able to get back on anyway, despite his TTing. Aru would have Landa with him I guess; even two riders working together should be enough to easily hold off any single rider; even if they are weaker on the flat individually.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This climb is not nearly hard enough to do anything.
There is even a risk Dumoulin gaining time at intermediate sprint or finish.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

This climb is not nearly hard enough to do anything.
There is even a risk Dumoulin gaining time at intermediate sprint or finish.

Of course it's hard enough; especially at the end of a lumpy stage, in the third week of a GT, the day after a time trial. Tours have been won before on much easier climbs than this.

 

[Mr.White]

Break. If not then Valverde

 

[KyoGrey]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 18: Roa > Riaza 205km

The 50 km before the start of la Quesera proper is absolutelly spiky hills, with bad rural roads in one of Spain's most unpopulated zones.

All those sierras around Majaelrayo, Valverde de los Arroyos etc is like going back in time, as if civilization lost it's battle against the raw wilderness of nature. There are even some primitive beech forests there (in the centre of Spain!)

I'm amazed that the Vuelta has planified a parcours through there. We won't see any public (population density is abismal- near cero), but racing will be exciting.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

I don't know to be honest. I could see TD sticking with the little guys on that climb....but who knows. He will be measured in his approach up it I'm sure. Not wasting energy chasing on the steepest sections. Should be an epic one though.

 

[Billie]

Dumoulin has not shown a great descender so far. On La Gallina but also on the Cobertoria descent he was in 3rd last position after doing the climb somewhere in the middle of the group

 

[hfer07]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 18: Roa > Riaza 205km

Quintanita to try some crazy attack at the bottom of the climb & then bring about his descending skills to win the stage & cut his deficit down to one minute

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Valverde gotta step on the gas downhill and link up with a team mate from the early break just to make sure.

Perfect stage for an upset imo.

Or just another GC group ride....

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re: 2015 Vuelta stage 18: Roa > Riaza 205km

Quintanita to try some crazy attack at the bottom of the climb & then bring about his descending skills to win the stage & cut his deficit down to one minute

I could see him trying it, but blowing up and just hanging on when everyone catches him up. I don't think he has the form to even try this. But I would appreciate him going for it!!

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Break of 20 riders.

20 riders: 1/3 Astana + 1/3 Movistar + 1/3 Katusha

 

[Escarabajo]

These are the best climbs for action, not the steep ones. Now look at all those up and downs. It is actually perfect for attacking.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Dumoulin has not shown a great descender so far. On La Gallina but also on the Cobertoria descent he was in 3rd last position after doing the climb somewhere in the middle of the group

on la gallina he was struggling putting on a jacket. On Cobertoria he had to get food himself. That's the downside of having no team.

 

[jsem94]

The climbers have to try something to get rid of Dumoulin. They must surely try something.