Rest Day 1: Who will win La Vuelta?

[Escarabajo]

I rode the route earlier this year and am surprised to see that the section near the top is so steep. It certainly didn't feel more than 10%.

I think the course as a whole is great for a time trial though as it offers something for everyone. The climb is long enough to help genuine climbers, but not so steep that it rules out the more powerful riders.

The first half of the downhill is really technical and will require a lot of hard accelerations, more than just turning a massive gear. Also the road is really narrow and the surface is poor in a lot of the corners - wouldn't fancy doing it with aero bars.

The last 15km, until Borja (which will be techincal) are mostly straight and really fast though which will suit the big powerhouses.

Two bikes or one?

So if the first section is not steep it would be only one.

 

[aarononymous]

Quintana to show these men of will what will really is

 

[yespatterns]

I rode the route earlier this year and am surprised to see that the section near the top is so steep. It certainly didn't feel more than 10%.

I think the course as a whole is great for a time trial though as it offers something for everyone. The climb is long enough to help genuine climbers, but not so steep that it rules out the more powerful riders.

The first half of the downhill is really technical and will require a lot of hard accelerations, more than just turning a massive gear. Also the road is really narrow and the surface is poor in a lot of the corners - wouldn't fancy doing it with aero bars.

The last 15km, until Borja (which will be techincal) are mostly straight and really fast though which will suit the big powerhouses.

I'm thinking time gaps won't that big. Also thanks for the insight on the course.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Really? I've been amazed by quintanas time trialling the last 2 seasons. I would think he'll probably gain a handful of seconds on contador. I expect froome to be in red on tuesday night

You mean like the TT in the Giro?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Quintana to show these men of will what will really is

I expect him to be right up there over the first section, but over the last half he will lose a lot of time.

 

[notrolfsorensen]

Voted Contador, cuz I like him. But I don't think neither Quintana or Froome have been beaten yet. Froome had a bad day after crashing the day before and in cold weather which is also where he usually looses time.

A lot will be clearer after the TT, but I think it will be close all the way this year. If Contador reaches his Tour-form though, then no competition. I think he could have smoked everybody in the mountains this year. Stronger than giro 11. Hope he can reach that form again next year.

 

[Jagartrott]

Who cares about the Vuelta today. It's the fappening (iCould hacking)!

 

[Netserk]

T4B profile of the ITT (missing the start like BigMac's route)

Openrunner full route.

 

[ILovecycling]

Really? I've been amazed by quintanas time trialling the last 2 seasons. I would think he'll probably gain a handful of seconds on contador. I expect froome to be in red on tuesday night

he is good timetrialist,but certainly he won't be better than Contador!

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

It follows a similar pattern (IIRC!) to the TT in the 2013 Tour. Contador had that look of disbelief on his face when Froome beat him. I think Contador put quite a bit of time into Quintana though?

 

[Stromeon]

You mean like the TT in the Giro?

He wasn't feeling at his best in the first half of the Giro and said somewhere that he really suffered during that TT.

His TT at Tirreno, which was the very definition of a straight out-and-back course, which you would think would not suit him at all, was pretty impressive - he beat all the other guys in the GC top 10 (people like Contador, Kreuziger, Peraud). Plus he finished 2nd in Burgos in another power course recently.

 

[ILovecycling]

It follows a similar pattern (IIRC!) to the TT in the 2013 Tour. Contador had that look of disbelief on his face when Froome beat him. I think Contador put quite a bit of time into Quintana though?

it was way more hilly.

 

[Akuryo]

I just hope, Rigo can take back some time. He will probably finish 5th at best in the end (GC), but this stage will show us, what his form really looks like.

 

[fauniera]

Openrunner full route.

Interesting route, totally exposed and almost deserted. The wind could be an important factor. At the top of the climb the road nearly looks like gravel, but maybe they resurfaced it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if it's wind then quintana and chaves will lose a lot of time.

 

[barmaher]

if it's wind then quintana and chaves will lose a lot of time.

I've checked a couple of forecasts.

The descent into Borja will see a cross-wind / head-wind. It won't be too much (c. 15kph) but not ideal.

 

[ILovecycling]

I've checked a couple of forecasts.

The descent into Borja will see a cross-wind / head-wind. It won't be too much (c. 15kph) but not ideal.

ohh ****

 

[Coat-O]

How good is Quintana on a technical descent? He has to win time somewhere other than on the climb.

 

[Netserk]

How good is Quintana on a technical descent? He has to win time somewhere other than on the climb.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=1555328#post1555328

 

[Coat-O]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=1555328#post1555328

9 seconds better than Froome, that's not bad for such a small rider. Unless Froome of course is not that great downhill. Quintana needs all the time he can get until he hits the flat section.

Contador will most likely go berzerk downhill.

Froome on the other hand will probably take it more calmly on the hill and descent in order to go all-in on the flat section. I think this is where you can win most time.

 

[Sciatic]

I think Contador.

But more importantly, I want to lodge an official protest with the Vuelta organizers: this is the second grand tour this year (Giro the other) that scheduled a rest day on a U.S. national holiday!

I only get 5 friggin paid holidays a year and 2 have been race rest days! watching race action is the perfect way to start the day so I have been highly inconvenienced by these scheduling oversights

 

[LaFlorecita]

It follows a similar pattern (IIRC!) to the TT in the 2013 Tour. Contador had that look of disbelief on his face when Froome beat him. I think Contador put quite a bit of time into Quintana though?

 

[ILovecycling]

ugly memories

 

[LaFlorecita]

ugly memories

I remember freaking out when Froome beat him

 

[Jspear]

I think Contador.

But more importantly, I want to lodge an official protest with the Vuelta organizers: this is the second grand tour this year (Giro the other) that scheduled a rest day on a U.S. national holiday!

I only get 5 friggin paid holidays a year and 2 have been race rest days! watching race action is the perfect way to start the day so I have been highly inconvenienced by these scheduling oversights

When the parcours for this Vuelta came out, the organizers thought that Horner was going to be returning. They wanted to make sure the American champ got to rest on his national holiday.