La Vuelta '17 stage 3:Prades Conflent>Andorra la Vella 158km

[Simurgh]

Fernando Escartin's thoughts

Mountain. The peloton will ride comfortably up until Andorra, where a first natural selection process will take place. The climb to La Comella, short yet explosive, will take care of the rest. It will be complicated to organise a breakaway but we do not write off the possibility of attacks in the very last kilometre. If one of the strong riders shows any signs of weakness, this could complicate his Vuelta.

Description of the stage, by Robert5091:

The race sets off in Prades, France. Almost without delay the route goes uphill and 31.5 kilometres into the stage the riders crest Col de la Perche. The peak lies at an elevation of 1,560 metres, while the last 12 kilometres of the climb are averaging 3.7%.

In a long descent the riders land on Spanish soil for the first time in the 2017 Vuelta. Shortly after passing through Seo d’Urgell with 114.2 kilometres done the riders hit the first slopes of the Coll de la Rabassa. The 13.2 kilometres climb is averaging 6.9% with a steepest ramp of 15.5%. At an elevation of 1,820 metres, the top is crested 127.5 kilometres into the race. By now the Vuelta is in Andorra.

The last challenge is the Alto de la Comella, a 4.3 kilometres climb at 8.3%. The steepest sector of 12% is 800 metres before the top. Once above, a flying 7.1 kilometres drop leads to the line in Andorra la Vella.

Profile

Coll de la Rabassa (13,3 km á 6,8%)

Col de la Perche (19,5 km á 4,8%)

Last km

Weather at the finish line, Andorra la Vella in the afternoon

Top 25 GC:

 

[Robert5091]

We seem to have double posted - Mods HELP! please delete one - thanks!

 

[RattaKuningas]

I'd like this stage more if it didn't have that descent in the end. Anyone knows if this descent is tricky enough to create some gaps?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

We seem to have double posted - Mods HELP! please delete one - thanks!

Or add your description to this OP

 

[Lexman]

Poels to win and take Red Jersey...

 

[starlord]

Denifl, De Gendt, Geniez, Niemiec for KOM points...Atapuma should be in the break as well
Alafpolak ftw and red jersey

 

[Robert5091]

Set your clocks for live video at 12:55pm CET (6:55am U.S. Eastern). Anything could happen today.

Looking at the map, the descent does not seem to have many hairpins so it should go quickly.

Edit - just seen today's sprint - with a 3 second bonus - is at the base of the last climb. Extra incentive to be first to the climb.

 

[starlord]

It's anything can happen Monday after all

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali, Contador, Froome, or a minor contender to try something

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I'd like this stage more if it didn't have that descent in the end. Anyone knows if this descent is tricky enough to create some gaps?

The parcours is good for stage 3, there's enough uphill finishes as it is. This stage will tell us who can't win the Vuelta, and that's all we need to know this early.

 

[Robert5091]

Riders were pooped after stage 2 -
https://twitter.com/ChristianKnees/status/899310159968817158

 

[Lequack]

Backstage Pass - Stage 2 (05:37 English) — ORICAScott
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLxi9qu8-Qk

29 Big Photos from Stage 2 — sirotti/flockton/aso/smith:
http://www.steephill.tv/2017/vuelta-a-espana/photos/stage-02/

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Nibali, Contador, Froome, or a minor contender to try something

Chaves, Zakarin maybe even Aru. A Contador attack on Rabassa would be nice.

 

[the chicken from T]

Is Miguel Angel Lopez a good descender?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Great stage. Home early, sofa time the next 4 hours. I think its too hard for Alaphilippe. Dont know what to expect in the finale, but hoping for a Zack attack or one of the young Movis!

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Great stage. Home early, sofa time the next 4 hours. I think its too hard for Alaphilippe. Dont know what to expect in the finale, but hoping for a Zack attack or one of the young Movis!

Zak attacking on a stage with downhill finish? Would be great but i don't believe it.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Great stage. Home early, sofa time the next 4 hours. I think its too hard for Alaphilippe. Dont know what to expect in the finale, but hoping for a Zack attack or one of the young Movis!

Zak attacking on a stage with downhill finish? Would be great but i don't believe it.

He needs to start the descents with some advantage

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

Great stage. Home early, sofa time the next 4 hours. I think its too hard for Alaphilippe. Dont know what to expect in the finale, but hoping for a Zack attack or one of the young Movis!

Yes, this is one of the best designed GT stages in recent memory.

Oh, and Alberto Contador will win this bike race.

 

[staubsauger]

Alafpolak or Lopez IMHO!

 

[sir fly]

Should be interesting in every sense.
The stage battle, GC sorting out, points...

 

[Der Effe]

Kelderman to win and take the leader's jersey.

 

[staubsauger]

With Dombrowski, Taaramäe, Tolhoek, Navarro, De Gendt, Atapuma all being far away in the gc already the forming of the breakaway group on the first col normally should be interesting already!

 

[bob.a.feet]

Nibali and Contador will both attack, Nibali will win.

 

[Der Effe]

F. Ferrari, A. Turgis, Villella and De Gendt in the break.

Domont, Geniez and Orjuela try to bridge.

 

[Durden93]

This stage is far too early for any of the big names to take a risk. Thinking about Rui Costa.