2016 Vuelta a España, stage 19: Xàbia > Calp 37km ITT

[Flamin]

At last, an ITT. Way too short but okay. The route is perhaps a bit harder in reality than it looks on the profile.

The climb to Benitatxell is the hardest part of the course and has around 800m @ 7-8% in the middle. The rest is false flat. Though I wouldn't expect too much of what looks like a technical section around La Fustera. The whole route is mostly on pretty big roads.

Weather
Attention to the weather. The wind could be pretty strong (4 beaufort), blowing from the sea. Max temp 30°C.

Top-10 GC
1. QUINTANA Nairo 7 MOVISTAR TEAM 74h 30' 03''
2. FROOME Christopher 21 TEAM SKY 74h 33' 40'' + 03' 37''
3. CHAVES Johan Esteban 51 ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE 74h 34' 00'' + 03' 57''
4. CONTADOR Alberto 11 TINKOFF 74h 34' 05'' + 04' 02''
5. YATES Simon 59 ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE 74h 36' 06'' + 06' 03''
6. TALANSKY Andrew 141 CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM 74h 37' 37'' + 07' 34''
7. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel 37 BMC RACING TEAM 74h 38' 15'' + 08' 12''
8. FORMOLO Davide 145 CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM 74h 38' 16'' + 08' 13''
9. SCARPONI Michele 61 ASTANA PRO TEAM 74h 38' 31'' + 08' 28''
10. DE LA CRUZ David 133 ETIXX - QUICK STEP 74h 38' 55'' + 08' 52''

 

[PremierAndrew]

Castroviejo v Froome for the stage

Btw, you linked your profile on mapmyride, not the route itself

 

[KyoGrey]

Go Castro Go!

 

[bob.a.feet]

Contador FTW.

 

[Laplaz]

Vegard Stake Laengen could do well

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Vegard Stake Laengen could do well

I agree, he is one of my favorites as well. Him, Castroviejo and Froome. Perhaps I'd even rate him highest

 

[DFA123]

It looks a pretty weak TT field. Quintana should easily top 10 here; Froome probably should make top 3, despite his form. Who knows with Contador; his flattish TTs are so hit and miss these days.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Castro should have this in his back, he really deserves this after this year! Off-topic, I heard Sky wanted him according to Daniel Friebe (who btw is amazing, IMO).

I expect pretty minor differences between Contador, Quintana and Froome, but Im actually looking forward to see how Chaves fares the most in this ITT. He will most likely drop to 4th, but I expect him to do well. Will be a very important test. Also, Valverde to top-5.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Castroviejo v Froome for the stage

Btw, you linked your profile on mapmyride, not the route itself

Oops. When I open it, it links to the route. Guess I can't share it, or at least I don't know how.

Edit: better now? LINK

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Lulu Sanchez, Talansky and Ludvigsson deserves to be mentioned as well

 

[bonaqua]

Re:

Castroviejo v Froome for the stage

Btw, you linked your profile on mapmyride, not the route itself

Actually it looks like the link is correct but only Philip's friends in MapMyRide can see it. By making route public would solve problem if possible.

 

[Põhja Konn]

I wouldn't be suprised at all if Contador ended the day 2nd in GC. Its not very likely to happen, but Contador has shown signs of improvement and is capable of world class TT-s (although far from certain to deliver one here) and beating Froome is likely to give him extra motivation even when second place itself means nothing to him. With Froome fading, there is an outside chance that something like that could happen.

Can't see main GC guys beating specialists like Castroviejo as the only one who otherwise could (Froome) is likely to be too tired and exhausted by now.

 

[Lexman]

De Gendt ftw...

 

[carton]

Froome had this at "h". As in, no one within two minutes of the dawg.

Quintana to lose about 2:45, if that profile is right.

 

[deValtos]

I think Quintana will drop 1 minute maximum. Would be very interesting tho if he randomly drops 3 minutes for the next stage. But he has shown he has good legs and when he has strong legs he can time trial well.

 

[Arredondo]

Quintana to get time on Froome in the ITT. So: i said it.

 

[Miburo]

Contador gonna win this, i said it

 

[Robert5091]

Froome has been saving himself for this stage for days now. Problem is he can not go full bats**t as it could all go pear shaped on Saturday's stage. How Bertie matches up to Froome will be interesting - again in relation to Saturday's stage.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Contador gonna win this, i said it

To be fair it's not exactly something new that you expect Contador to win

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if a lot of wind quintana will lose a lot of time

 

[MrTea1976]

Talansky in the top 5 by the end of tomorrow.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Campenaerts top 5 at least.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Miburo for the love of god stop jinxing poor Berto

 

[Orbit501]

Campenaerts top 5 at least.

Rolled in last today too. Saving energy no doubt. Certainly didn't have to pull for anyone today either.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re:

if a lot of wind quintana will lose a lot of time

https://www.google.pl/#q=weather+forecast+calpe

A 20kmh wind from the south, so pretty much a headwind

1. Castro
2. Mantis
3. That guy from Trek who often comes third regardless of whether it's a flat stage, mountain stage or TT