USAPCC Stage 2: Gunnison to Aspen 209.8km (24/8)

[benpounder]

Billed as the queen stage, this will teach many non-American cyclists what we Coloradoans already know. At altitude, many riders literally suck! While the net elevation change from start to finish is less than 100m, the route twice crosses over the continental divide; first at Cottonwood Pass (12,126ft - 3696m) then back to the Pacific drainage at Independence Pass (12,085ft - 3684m). We all have seen riders crack at critical times on crucial climbs; at altitude it is different. These riders may have an incredible VO2 max, but up here there is a whole lot more space between all those O2 elements. Above 10,000ft your every breath is grasping at, nay yearning for this necessity. If you exceed your redline, it can take dozens of minutes to recover – sitting down.

To contemplate what I have to say, consider this official profile:

Also note that the Buena Vista sprint is mislabeled – it is actually at the bottom of the vee.

The day starts off in Gunnison, frequently the coldest town in the United States. Not today! After about 36miles (58km) of 1-3% uphill starts the climb of Cottonwood Pass proper. While it is not steep (avg 4%) it is long (12.6mi – 20.4km). It also begins at about 9500ft above sea level (2896m). For reference, the top of Passo dello Stelvio, the highest regularly used summits of the Grand Tours, is 2758m.

I think I forgot to mention that the climb proper is all on ‘strada bianche’, or as we call it hear, hard-pack! I’ve read that CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) has graded it, removing the inevitably appearing washboards; let us hope that that is so, for otherwise a brutal stage would become cruel.

The descent from the race’s highpoint is mercifully paved. Yeah, paved for the next 14.3miles (23km) at 5% - 7% for the nasty switchbacks. The race will then have a modest downhill to the first sprint-point, just 0.2mi beyond the hard left onto US 24 in downtown Buena Vista (pronounced Biewna Vista for you Spanish speakers).

Another 1-3% uphill drag for 19.2mi (30.9m) takes the race to Killer 82. CO State Highway 82 was given that nickname before I lived in Aspen in 1981. Back then, it was a treacherous, narrow, winding road with far too much traffic. While the “Killer” stretch (Aspen to Basalt) has been improved, this climb has not. There is a short steep ramp up to Twin Lakes followed by a modest respite (7.5mi – 12km) along those man-made two lakes. At a long 180º bend at the upper end of Twin Lakes, the climb to Independence Pass starts. The elevation here is 9500ft – 2896m. And what is left of the peloton will explode!

For the next 14.2mi (22.9m) these lads will be climbing in rarified air. The first 9 of these aren’t so bad at only 4%. The finishing 5mi are bad at 5+% with ramps of 8%. Those who get to the summit first still have a daunting task.

It is 19.4miles into Aspen and the finishing chicane. On the road are some hairy corners on narrow roads with nasty drop-offs, and some are wide open straight-aways leading into the above-mentioned. Near the finish is about 3.5miles of road following the meandering Roaring Fork River.

Just below the summit looking down (northwest)

Part of the nasty narrow section.

In all, it means that who ever is going to win this stage must be 1) a good climber, 2) a good downhiller, 3) a good timetrialer, and 4) strong enough after a really nasty stage to perform 1, 2, and 3 well.

 

[benpounder]

Here is the map of the stage:

Here is the color coordinated profile showing gradient:

And again, courtesy of mapmyride.com, here is the profile of Cottonwood Pass:

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't get it, why use such non-steep climbs? Why not use them reversed so it's steeper?

 

[benpounder]

And Independence Pass:

Lastly, The map of the final 5 miles:

And the profile of the final 5 miles:

The Colombians of Gobernacion de Antioquia and EPM - UNE will not only do well, but will likely animate this stage. But the Colorado based riders will also contest. Aside from my pick of Henao, look for Levi, Tommy D, and, yes, Andy Schleck to do well on this stage.

 

[Havetts]

Going to be a good stage I'm sure, best downhiller will win this if he can stay close to the attacks on the climb.

 

[hrotha]

Damn, the stage profile looked so great until I learned the climbs were high altitude Laguna de los Peces. I guess some people won't handle the altitude well, but all that means is some of the theoretical favourites will crack, while we still get a fairly big group on the front and no one can drop anyone with an attack (unless Levi surprises).

 

[l.Harm]

Thank you Ben.

There's not much flat after the last climb, that's an advantage for the attackers. They'll need some descending capacities though.

 

[Deagol]

I'm on my way out the door to go camp out for this stage !!

Will post pics later this week...

 

[Havetts]

Thank you Ben.

+1. Thanks Ben for putting alot of effort into this, really looking forward to this thanks to your dedication and passion, quite contagious .

 

[Havetts]

I'm on my way out the door to go camp out for this stage !!

Will post pics later this week...

Don't forget, imageshack.us !

 

[cineteq]

Oxygen tanks ready for Independence Pass?

 

[luckyboy]

I don't get it, why use such non-steep climbs? Why not use them reversed so it's steeper?

Yeah that's what I was thinking (reversed profile with the finish at CR742)

 

[The Hitch]

lol wut.

In the Giro red means 10 %+ (though could be used to mean 13%+)

In the Tour red means 9% +

In some classics red would mean 7% +

But for red to mean 5%+ wtf. Thats what green is supposed to be for.

It being the only mounain stage (from what i hear) it should still be raced hard but it could be so much better.

 

[Jamsque]

I hope Gooby light it up on that final climb, I am bored of Levi winning nearly every big US stage race.

And I hope the pack take it a little more seriously tomorrow, today was pedestrian until the final few km.

 

[luckyboy]

lol wut.

In the Giro red means 10 %+ (though could be used to mean 13%+)

In the Tour red means 9% +

In some classics red would mean 7% +

But for red to mean 5%+ wtf. Thats what green is supposed to be for.

It being the only mounain stage (from what i hear) it should still be raced hard but it could be so much better.

Most climbs in that area are probably long and not so steep. They are at a massive altitude though.

 

[Havetts]

Most climbs in that area are probably long and not so steep. They are at a massive altitude though.

Still think they couldve found better.

 

[benpounder]

In the Giro red means 10 %+ (though could be used to mean 13%+)

In the Tour red means 9% +

In some classics red would mean 7% +

But for red to mean 5%+ wtf. Thats what green is supposed to be for.

It being the only mounain stage (from what i hear) it should still be raced hard but it could be so much better.

Give me a classics climb that starts above 2800m and you may have a point.

 

[benpounder]

Still think they couldve found better.

Yes, there are finishing climbs that are worlds better. Let us let this race become established before we demand such.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

lol wut.

In the Giro red means 10 %+ (though could be used to mean 13%+)

In the Tour red means 9% +

In some classics red would mean 7% +

But for red to mean 5%+ wtf. Thats what green is supposed to be for.

It being the only mounain stage (from what i hear) it should still be raced hard but it could be so much better.

http://mapmyride.com uses purples and then darker purples for steeper than 10%. Its a handy tool to look at your route available to everyone; I don't blame an upstart stage race for sacrificing your color coordination for a cheap and effective alternative.

That being said, I don't like their elevation profiling very much. It tends to average out short and steep hills.

Anyways

Its been said in other threads for the race, but they want the big money towns. I'd bet Aspen is worth more than whatever municipality owns the top of Independence pass. Ohh well, and we Americans will still celebrate any stage race attention we can get.

 

[jens_attacks]

i predict that on cottonwood pass,levi will be left alone with 5 gobernacion guys,maybe cadel will be there too but i doubt after yesterday.tom danielson it's a better choice
there's no way someone will control this stage.i think acevedo will be send first,and then sevilla,levi will be in big trouble tonight...there is a descent too to the finish

 

[hfer07]

I'm afraid that last "climb" isn't going to affect the GC at all, since isn't steep enough to temp Henao, Sevilla & the Colombian crew to spark some fireworks...

P.S. I just checked the rest of the stages..... Bottle has just won it-there is no challenges ahead for him to be worried about-just flattish & mostly descents roads with no MTF.....

 

[Tank Engine]

I'm afraid that last "climb" isn't going to affect the GC at all, since isn't steep enough to temp Henao, Sevilla & the Colombian crew to spark some fireworks...

P.S. I just checked the rest of the stages..... Bottle has just won it-there is no challenges ahead for him to be worried about-just flattish & mostly descents roads with no MTF.....

Apart from the traditional early break, there won't be much attacking here apart from Gobernacion. However, it will be selective. Due to the length of the climbs and the altitude, they'll be dropping off the back like flies. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be selective enough.

 

[just some guy]

Early start with pictures also 19.50 CET if my calculations are correct

 

[just some guy]

Love this from the front page.

The Schleck brothers rode together into the finale, where Fränk urged his sibling to attack. "Andy and I raced the way we are used to racing and that is together. As soon as the last helper from Rabo swapped up, I said, ‘Andy if you can go now would be a good moment’, and I got a really angry hate look from him.

"He went anyway and he did his job, he tried for himself and that could have been a good one. He made the race harder and as soon as I caught him back, I went

 

[Duartista]

i predict that on cottonwood pass,levi will be left alone with 5 gobernacion guys,maybe cadel will be there too but i doubt after yesterday.tom danielson it's a better choice
there's no way someone will control this stage.i think acevedo will be send first,and then sevilla,levi will be in big trouble tonight...there is a descent too to the finish

That's a good point actually. Levi has been dropped on descents a couple of times this year, most notably in Tour de Suisse. Who is good enough/ motivated enough to take some risks?