Murcia - Almeria - Jaén, February 11th, 12th & 13th

[Samamba]

3 Spanish one day races in 3 days time.

Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida (1.1)

Basically same route as last year when Covi won after a late attack. Last kilometers are different tho. They finish on a little hill (around 800 at 5.7%) with a lot of corners in the last km. Positioning is key. Headwind in the last 40km might make it hard to avoid some sort of reduced uphill group sprint.

Last 800m: https://veloviewer.com/segments/30112285

Favorites: Coquard, UAE (Trentin, Hirschi, Covi, Wellens, ...), Kron, Madouas, Rota, Clarke, Louvel, Barguil, Sanchez, Van Eetvelt, Zimmermann, Turner, Izagirre, ...

Full startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-region-de-murcia/2023/startlist


Clasica de Almeria (1.Pro)

Should be a bunch sprint, but there is some serieus NE wind (>30km/u) expected. Echelons are definitely possible on some parts of the parcours, but it will be a headwind mainly I fear.

Favorites: De Lie, Gaviria, Bouhanni, Girmay (I thought he was in Eritrea but ok), Kristoff, Nizzolo, Meeus, Tesson, Coquard, ...

Full startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/clasica-de-almeria/2023/result/startlist

Jaén Paraiso Interior (1.1)

Gravel!!! Last year was the first edition, won by a extremely dominant Lutsenko. Different route this year tho. Longer gravel climbs are in the first part of the race while they were in the 2nd pars last year. Final parcours has a 5km gravel section with a 1km climb in it. Very technical final through the city of Baeza. First 2023 race for Tadej Pogacar!!!

Favorites: Pogacar, rest of UAE, Rota, Zimmermann, Louvel, Barguil, Martin, Geschke, Kron, Van Eetvelt, Vliegen, Swift, Battistella, Clarke

Not so full startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/clasica-jaen-paraiso-interior/2023/result/startlist

 

[Red Rick]

Jaén Paraiso Interior (1.1)

Gravel!!! Last year was the first edition, won by a extremely dominant Lutsenko. Different route this year tho. Longer gravel climbs are in the first part of the race while they were in the 2nd pars last year. Final parcours has a 5km gravel section with a 1km climb in it. Very technical final through the city of Baeza. First 2023 race for Tadej Pogacar!!!

Favorites: Pogacar, rest of UAE, Rota, Zimmermann, Louvel, Barguil, Martin, Geschke, Kron, Van Eetvelt, Vliegen, Swift, Battistella, Clarke

Not so full startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/clasica-jaen-paraiso-interior/2023/result/startlist

Looks a lot cooler than last year when it was just a gravel climb repeated 4 times mostly. This looks like a worthy parallel to Strade Bianche.

 

[Samamba]

Looks a lot cooler than last year when it was just a gravel climb repeated 4 times mostly. This looks like a worthy parallel to Strade Bianche.

Yeah won't just be the best climber that wins easily. Well, Pogacar can still win obviously.

I think it was 2 different climbs that they did 2 times last year and not the same one 4 times, but they looked like the same climb. A long 4km stretch uphill. Anyways your point still stands obviously.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah won't just be the best climber that wins easily. Well, Pogacar can still win obviously.

I think it was 2 different climbs that they did 2 times last year and not the same one 4 times, but they looked like the same climb. A long 4km stretch uphill. Anyways your point still stands obviously.

In between, actually: they did climb 1 - climb 2 - climb 1 - climb 1. Climb 1 is this year's sector 3, climb 2 is the first part of sector 4, every other sterrato sector is new.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

In between, actually: they did climb 1 - climb 2 - climb 1 - climb 1. Climb 1 is this year's sector 3, climb 2 is the first part of sector 4, every other sterrato sector is new.

Although by the time they get to it, sector 8 won't be.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Is this Jaén the same Jaén as the location of the Valdepeñas de Jaén muro that has featured in La Vuelta a few times (most recently 2021, I think) with the 27% ramps?

 

[Red Rick]

Is this Jaén the same Jaén as the location of the Valdepeñas de Jaén muro that has featured in La Vuelta a few times (most recently 2021, I think) with the 27% ramps?

I think Jaén is a regional capital of the Jaen region in Andalucia. Valdepeñas is a small town to the south west in that same region.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Is this Jaén the same Jaén as the location of the Valdepeñas de Jaén muro that has featured in La Vuelta a few times (most recently 2021, I think) with the 27% ramps?

It's the same province, but this race takes place north-east of Valdepeñas de Jaén.

 

[Samamba]

Snow on the big climb so parcours changes... Guess they will be getting rid of it. Will make the race even easier.

What's up with the weather in Spain lately. First Mallorca now this one.

EDIT: Yeah the Collado Bermejo recplaced by some 3rd category climb. With the headwind in the last 40k I really don't see how this won't be just a bunchsprint uphill and Coquard winning it. Going to be messy when they come into the last kms with those turns and probably a bigger bunch than expected.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I believe this is the cat. 3, needless to say it will have zero impact.

And a more detailed profile of Cedacero:

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Murcia has already split into 4 groups. 18 in the lead, including 5 from Bora and 3 from Lotto.

 

[RedheadDane]

Murcia has already split into 4 groups. 18 in the lead, including 5 from Bora and 3 from Lotto.

And coverage only starts at 16:15... Boooh...

 

[Samamba]

And coverage only starts at 16:15... Boooh...

Do you expect them to show live images of the start of a .1 race because the 1% chance at crosswinds lol

 

[RedheadDane]

Do you expect them to show live images of a .1 race because the .01% chance at crosswinds lol

In a perfect world, all race organisations would have the money to have full-coverage of every race, and it would be easily available everywhere. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

In a perfect world, all race organisations would have the money to have full-coverage of every race, and it would be easily available everywhere. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.

Clearly you need to attend all .1 races and buy the huge amount of alcohol you consume there, instead of going to your local Lidl, so they'll get the money to put them on TV

 

[RedheadDane]

Clearly you need to attend all .1 races and buy the huge amount of alcohol you consume there, instead of going to your local Lidl, so they'll get the money to put them on TV

I don't consume that much alcohol...
And while it's quite easy to watch multiple races on "TV" at the same time, physically attending multiple races at the same time is somewhat more complicated.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't consume that much alcohol...
And while it's quite easy to watch multiple races on "TV" at the same time, physically attending multiple races at the same time is somewhat more complicated.

You wouldn't have to stay for the full duration of the races, only for as long as itd take for them to make a profit, and then you'd travel to the next one.

 

[Salvarani]

Murcia has already split into 4 groups. 18 in the lead, including 5 from Bora and 3 from Lotto.

You got any more info on who is in the group?

 

[RedheadDane]

You wouldn't have to stay for the full duration of the races, only for as long as itd take for them to make a profit, and then you'd travel to the next one.

Are you driving?

 

[Samamba]

Part of the 2nd group jumped to the first group on the first climb of the day. 30ish riders in front now.

 

[zigzag wanderer]

You got any more info on who is in the group?

https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=74&y=2023&racecenter=1

About 50 riders upfront now.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Are you driving?

That would both be unsafe, unwise and illegal.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Seems to be coming back together now.

 

[Samamba]

Atleast it made the race a bit harder...

 

[Salvarani]

Great to see young rider Ivan Romeo having a go. In the break with Sweeney atm.