The mountains rear their vicious, vicious heads once more as the rouleurs and sprinters huddle together for security against the time limit, and the TT-oriented GC contenders have to test their mettle against inevitable losses as we reach the business end of the race...
Stage 18: Tondela - Alto de São Macário, 143km
Though this stage is short, it contains perhaps the most bang for your buck in the race, with a selection of climbs, all nasty, and finishing with a loop that takes in Portugal's most underappreciated beast, the climb up to the Capela de São Macário. The péloton will face most of this climb twice, once looping back down into São Pedro do Sul, once continuing for the last 250m to the top. The name of the game is climbing, and if you ain't playing climbing you're in the wrong place - and with four climbs averaging over 8%, and the final climb - both times - being 9km at over 9%, you had better be playing climbing. The short distance may allow the heavier riders to limit their losses, but the number of climbs and their severity will see their mettle - and their legs - tested to the max.
Climbs:
Serra do Caramulo (Barreiro de Besteiros)(cat.1) 9,3km @ 8,2%
Serra do Caramulo (Muna)(cat.1) 7,7km @ 8,2%
Serra de São Macário (Portal do Inferno)(cat.1) 9,2km @ 9,1%
Alto de São Macário (cat.1) 9,4km @ 9,2%
Given my postings elsewhere, I guess you had to expect the climb of São Macário to crop up somewhere! Beforehand we're doing two of the many routes up to the Serra do Caramulo, and choosing some of the toughest, with some roads in less than ideal condition.
Serra do Caramulo:
Alto de São Macário:
Stage 18: Tondela - Alto de São Macário, 143km
Though this stage is short, it contains perhaps the most bang for your buck in the race, with a selection of climbs, all nasty, and finishing with a loop that takes in Portugal's most underappreciated beast, the climb up to the Capela de São Macário. The péloton will face most of this climb twice, once looping back down into São Pedro do Sul, once continuing for the last 250m to the top. The name of the game is climbing, and if you ain't playing climbing you're in the wrong place - and with four climbs averaging over 8%, and the final climb - both times - being 9km at over 9%, you had better be playing climbing. The short distance may allow the heavier riders to limit their losses, but the number of climbs and their severity will see their mettle - and their legs - tested to the max.
Climbs:
Serra do Caramulo (Barreiro de Besteiros)(cat.1) 9,3km @ 8,2%
Serra do Caramulo (Muna)(cat.1) 7,7km @ 8,2%
Serra de São Macário (Portal do Inferno)(cat.1) 9,2km @ 9,1%
Alto de São Macário (cat.1) 9,4km @ 9,2%
Given my postings elsewhere, I guess you had to expect the climb of São Macário to crop up somewhere! Beforehand we're doing two of the many routes up to the Serra do Caramulo, and choosing some of the toughest, with some roads in less than ideal condition.
Serra do Caramulo:
Alto de São Macário:
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