Vuelta a España 2023 Vuelta a España route rumours

[Ilmaestro99]

@Ilmaestro99 logic goes on vacations again. Probably to san sebastian.

Good timing for vacations. 4 weeks to relax and clear the mind in San Sebastian and then back in time for la vuelta to peak in the 3rd week writing paragraphs all day defending the GOAT remco evenepol.


Logic spends his life writing long post after long post on here repeating the same points about remco, this random sportsman, against anyone who has slightly different opinion. Hopefully the holidays give some perspective.

 

[KZD]

@Ilmaestro99 logic goes on vacations again. Probably to san sebastian.

If that's where Logic is going, lucky him. Good food, a city beach, nice buildings, good climbs...

 

[Netserk]

At first, I thought Logic had planned a vacation to Spain like his boy Remco usually does. Then, I thought you put him on ignore, and then I scrolled up and saw he got banned!

What for?

He has me (and apparently you as well) on ignore, not the other way around.

 

[BigCoward]

I wish TGH hadn't crashed out in Giro, I think he probably would have won, and would have been another very strong addition.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Vacation? More like business in San Sebastian. But it's over, mission accomplished and now it's time to go to Glasgow without forum distractions.

 

[Escarabajo]

I saw the profiles a couple of days ago and I have to tell you that I like it a lot. I usually don't like Vuelta's profiles for the amount of muritos or monoclimbs, but this year they had a good distribution IMHO. 4 stages stand out for me and they look really good. Additionally, I have to say that they make a good job in minimizing the sprint stages for the most part. Hopefully we get a good competition.

The start list looks really promising. However, I don't think it is what it looks like. For example I just don't believe that Thomas or Vingegaard will come with the form of the last GT that they did. I just don't believe it. So basically it will be similar to last year like Remco, Roglic, Mas with the addition of Carapaz as the contenders. For sure there will be others but these are the ones that stand out to me at first glance. there are several outsiders of course like Vlasov, Landa, Ineos riders, etc. Let's hope for the best race.

 

[topcat]

Celebrating a forumite getting banned is like celebrating a rider crashing out. It’s in bad taste.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I saw the profiles a couple of days ago and I have to tell you that I like it a lot. I usually don't like Vuelta's profiles for the amount of muritos or monoclimbs, but this year they had a good distribution IMHO. 4 stages stand out for me and they look really good. Additionally, I have to say that they make a good job in minimizing the sprint stages for the most part. Hopefully we get a good competition.

The start list looks really promising. However, I don't think it is what it looks like. For example I just don't believe that Thomas or Vingegaard will come with the form of the last GT that they did. I just don't believe it. So basically it will be similar to last year like Remco, Roglic, Mas with the addition of Carapaz as the contenders. For sure there will be others but these are the ones that stand out to me at first glance. there are several outsiders of course like Vlasov, Landa, Ineos riders, etc. Let's hope for the best race.

I agree, its a great route. Only real gripe I have with the route is the fact that the time trial is too short for my liking, but other than that, I really like it. I particularly like stage 14 over Hourcere and Larrau finishing on Larra-Belugua. Every time major Tour ride in this area, it produces some great racing and especially Larrau seems like a beast. Can't remember I have seen that climb before. Could potentially be the best GT stage of the year IMO.

Other than that, I really like stage 18 to Cruz de la Linares. Super though day and super steep climb in the bottom, coming the day after Angliru. And of course stage 20. Even if the win is off limits, there will still be plenty of racing to be done on such a stage for the remaining top-10 I think. It should be tough enough.

And no sprint stage in the first 3 days should with some varied terrain is always a huge plus. Like the stage into Barcelona, don't have a problem with the TTT at all and the MTF at Arinsal is actually pretty tough! Should make for a super first real showdown. These 3 first days will definitely create some gaps.

Great route, personally I like it a bit better than the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

Route overview by ammattipyoraily:

Note the bonus sprints on some of the climbs, @tobydawq!

 

[Ulle97]

This looks like an incredibly demanding Vuelta. The mountains are tough and there is very little respite for the GC men.
Sometimes in a Grand Tour we get a sequence of 3 days a couple of times which are classed as 'transitional stages.'

I can only see 2 consecutive stages that will not have GC action, which is stage 4 and 5.
The GC men will have to be on their toes every second day at a minimum.
Whoever wins this Vuelta will have earned it the hard way.

 

[tobydawq]

Route overview by ammattipyoraily:

Note the bonus sprints on some of the climbs, @tobydawq!

They haven't done that before, have they?

 

[Red Rick]

How many seconds are the bonus sprints?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Imagine you are Vuelta director and realize Vuelta, Giro and Tour champions are coming to your race. Among many other strong names. For the ultimate fight.

The first thing you realize after that is you deserve a pay raise.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Wait bonus seconds? And what are the Green B symbols? Also bonus seconds? Or some sprinter bonus?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

They haven't done that before, have they?

They had them last year too. From inrng:

There are 10-6-4 second time bonuses at the finish line of all the stages, apart from time trials.
There are also 3-2-1 seconds at the intermediate sprints for stages 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 21.
New for 2022 is the addition of 3-2-1 second time bonuses atop climbs in the race. These are Stage 4. Puerto de Herrera; Stage 5. Alto del Vivero (second time up); Stage 6. Collada de Brenes; Stage 8. Puerto de Tenebreo; Stage 9. La Campa; Stage 14. Puerto de Los Villares; Stage 15. Alto del Purche ; Stage 18. Alto de Piornal (1st category – first lap) and Stage 20. Puerto de la Morcuera.

As per the press kit released for the route presentation, it's the same this year, although the 'ten sprints on uphills' bit is definitely out of date.

The race will award 10, 6 and 4 seconds to the first three riders in each stage (except timetrials), and 3, 2 and 1 seconds to the
first three riders to complete each one of the nine intermediate sprints and the ten bonus sprints located on ten different uphills.

 

[Netserk]

They haven't done that before, have they?

They did last year too.

 

[tobydawq]

They did last year too.

Alright, I had completely forgotten (and it still doesn't ring a bell, although I do remember one sprint between Remco and Roglic).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Look at stages 8 through 18 guys. I know stage 9, 11 and 16 are soft GC-stages, but come on man, this is one hell of a damn hard Tour.

 

[Red Rick]

Look at stages 8 through 18 guys. I know stage 9, 11 and 16 are soft GC-stages, but come on man, this is one hell of a damn hard Tour.

15 should be a nailed on breakaway, but yea, it's really hard.

Stage 20 is great. Might turn out not hard enough but they're trying something at least.

 

[Ulle97]

15 should be a nailed on breakaway, but yea, it's really hard.

Stage 20 is great. Might turn out not hard enough but they're trying something at least.

Agreed, stage 20 looks very interesting.......... GT organisers have been looking at ways to spice up the finales of the Grand Tours with something different. We saw it with the Planche de Belle Filles ITT in 2020, this year's mid-mountain stage in the Vosges, the Monte Lussari ITT in the Giro, Bola del Mundo in the Vuelta, Ventoux in the 2009 Tour.

Granted, some of their ideas have failed fairly flat but this year's stage 20 looks different if riders go for it. I have Remco in my mind when thinking of this stage. Maybe 5mins down after getting dominated by Vingegaard in the mountains, but launching a 100km solo attack to slip into the leader's jersey on the last day))))

Anyone else thinking of this??

 

[ice&fire]

Stage 20 is an attempt to repeat Pereiro's design of stage 20 in the 2021 Vuelta but in Madrid. Not bad. It's a shame MAL is not racing.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Granted, some of their ideas have failed fairly flat but this year's stage 20 looks different if riders go for it. I have Remco in my mind when thinking of this stage. Maybe 5mins down after getting dominated by Vingegaard in the mountains, but launching a 100km solo attack to slip into the leader's jersey on the last day))))

Anyone else thinking of this??

Rogla on his wheel taking the overall. More realistic.

 

[RedheadDane]

Why don't you use your predictory powers to play the Vuelta CQ Game?
Don't worry, I will not be in charge of adding up the scores!

 

[ashhutch1997]

The more I look at the route, the more I like it. Its just ashame that the opening team time trail isn't an ITT, or the the main ITT isn't 10km longer. But there are some really nice stages. Its really like the stage over the Port de Larrau, that climb is a monster and is hardly used, and stage 20 looks awesome, it's a risky stage to have as a final GC stage, but it could end up being a classic. If it works out, I reckon we'll get more medium mountain final GC stages more often.

 

[BigCoward]

I'm thinking this route might be a problem for JV.
I don't care how much recovery he has, when does he get a day off? After a tough tour it could be too much.