Stage 16, San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo

[Red Rick]

Stage 16, San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo

It's finally there, the a true mountain stage in the Vuelta, with a final featuring gradients under 15%, this stage offers oppurtunities for the riders who want to attack from far out, which, for most of these riders, means exactly 1.183 meters. There are a grand total of 5 climbs, but I still think descender will come in this thread to post one snarky comment about the route.

Stage 16, Monday September 8 | San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo | 160.5km Stage URL

Yay, a real mountainstage, with descents and everything! Any GC rider that has been lacking on the final climbs so far, but feels he is improving will be able to mount a challenge from farther out than usual. The final climb might be the longest, but the lack of a flat section between the mountain top finish and the climb that precedes it means there is at least a possibility of more than just a standard "put the team on the front till most guys are gone, then attack for the final 2km" scenario possibility. Definately the most interesting stage of the Vuelta, this one, hopefully it lives up and opens the eyes of the organizers.

Second climb, Alto de Cobertoria (10km, 8.8%):

Third climb, Puerto de San Lorenzo (10.1km, 8.5%):

Final climb, La Farrapona (16.5km, 6.2%):

Everything can happen before the finishing climb, including nothing at all. The way Purito and Valverde have been grinding out the boni's they don't seem to planning on putting on a raid here. Contador has a weak team and will likely be isolated, but I think the others will let their domestique's bring everything back.

This stage is very hard to control, so I expect a big strong breakaway to take it. Contador will do his best Purito imitation and mark Valverde, Purito won't attack from far most likely. The loose cannon here is Froome, I bet he'll start being the jojo on the San Lorenzo already.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Easily the best stage of the race on paper.

Would perhaps have preferred Valle del Lago or Pola de Somiedo to finish, but can't really complain. Cobertoria from Pola de Lena, San Lorenzo and La Farrapona is a trifecta of really tough climbs. Legs will be very tired by the time they get to La Farrapona. Hopefully the climb is a bit more active than it was in 2011, but at least Guillén has put a lot more suffering in the legs of the riders before they get there to rectify that.

 

[Berlin Cyclingblog]

Some Caja Rural guys to attack, one Lampre guy, Hesjedal and Meintjes too. Than Barguil will attack multiple times since San Lorenzo and will be caught the same amount
Froome to do his own pace and loose contact to the three spaniards and Aru. Aru loosing contact, while Froome will pass Dan Martin and catch Aru. Change: Contador to do nothing with Valverde and Purito with 4-5k to go and Froome will catch them.

Stage win: 50% Break / 50% Froome...Valverde 10 sec, Rodriguez same time... Contador 5 Sec.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

This is a really good stage, completely different to everything so far. It could spring a surprise but that would require someone to do something adventurous. Unfortunately if the riders just ride all the climbs as a group then only attack towards the end of the final one then we might has well have more typical Vuelta stages. Hopefully someone will want to race for more than the last 2kms.

Quintana will be missed.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

More detailed profiles:

Cordal:

Cobertoria:

San Lorenzo:

Farrapona:

 

[DFA123]

Really looking forward to this one. I wonder if any of the contenders will attack on San Lorenzo, which is probably a harder climb than Farrapona. Perhaps if Rodriguez could send Moreno and Caruso up the road, they could help him on the early gentler slopes of the Farrapona if he could get a break.

Would have loved to see what Quintana would do here as well.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Hoping for someone from a huge break to take it... Alberto would just have to mark Valverde. No crazy attacks.

But I expect Movistar to work like animals to bring the break back. Would expect Valverde to take 10-15s in that case.

 

[Arredondo]

I don't see Purito attack here. He lost 2 minutes on Farrapone back in 2011. I think he would be extremely happy to finish in the wheel of the best.

I see Valverde losing a couple of seconds on Contador. I hope some guys from 8-15 in GC attack on San Lorenzo. Then we will get a great fight.

 

[Asturiano]

More detailed profiles:

Cordal:

Add the first 5 kms of this to Cordal (13 kms of climb):

And before Cordal, they are going to climb this:

 

[hfer07]

I hope and pray that either Valverde or Purito crack - even both will be great-so then we can finally witness the awaited Froome-Contador match

 

[icefire]

Weather forecast for the day:

 

[jens_attacks]

i just hope something happens here. this stage can save la vuelta for me

fabio aru to storm to podium and stage win on cordal!


probably best action of all day will be on colladona...

 

[DFA123]

Weather forecast for the day:

Hmmm.. I'm in Ponferrada at the moment and was half tempted to go and watch on the Farrapona. Think I might give that a miss now - not much shelter up there.

 

[the sceptic]

too many descents. Cancellara to neutralize the stage.

 

[Asturiano]

The stage starts here (a miner museum)

It's the DAY OF ASTURIAS, many Asturians are on holidays today.

 

[Arredondo]

too many descents. Cancellara to neutralize the stage.

Totally agree with that. Why not taking the descents out of the route?

 

[sir fly]

The race could be turned upside down here.
Movistar's enthusiasm looked promising today, so hopefully they'll repeat the routine.
This is the stage where Contador can be isolated and broken. It would have been much easier with Quintana, but it is what it is.
Also, if Froome survives - there's going to be some seriously disturbed Spaniards next Sunday.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It should be pretty easy to destroy Tinkoff's team on the first climb of the day, but looking at the GC there are not many options unless the main contenders are involved. Can't see it happening with so many climbs ahead.

Instead a good sized break will go and somebody from that will win the stage.

Is Zubaldia still going for a top 10 in GC?

Maybe Hesjedal again if he didn't kill himself closing the gap for Martin today.

 

[roundabout]

Zaugg, CAS and Hernandez are in good enough form to be in the last 40-50 riders so it's very unlikely that Contador gets isolated very early

 

[Jagartrott]

Why is this not in the weekend?

 

[Donkey]

too many descents. Cancellara to neutralize the stage.

Valverde's brain to miscalculate the number of climbs he'll sprint on penultimate climb, Rodriguez on his wheel...and then they'll both lose 2 mins.

 

[classicomano]

Breakaway of 50 riders to fight for the victory.

 

[Poursuivant]

Wout Poels

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Truly queen stage of the race. It's a kind of stage in which cumulative efforts from previous climbs will really matter at the end. Time differences could be bigger and after tomorrow we will know more about GC contenders. I hope Contador will gain some time over his rivals.

 

[Coat-O]

Please let it rain. Purito deserves a victory!

I must admit I am a bit sad that he hasn't won a stage yet. I think he deserves it on top of an unfortunate season. He is always up there, but it is never enough.

He is really starting to remind me of Poulidor or Zoetemelk.