Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2023 (February 1-5)

[Devil's Elbow]

The hardest edition of this race, at least since its reincarnation.

Startlist

Stage 1: Orihuela - Altea, 190.0k
The least difficult one, but certainly not a nailed-on sprint.

Rates:

Alto de

Stage 2: Novelda - Alto de Pinos (Benissa), 178.5k
First GC day, with Cumbre del Sol as the penultimate climb and the hardest uphill finish of the race.

Maimo (final 12.4k onl

Tibi:

Benifallim:

Confrides (final 5.5k only):

La Fustera:

Cumbre del Sol (only the first 3.2k, just like at the 2019 Vuelta):

Alto de Pinos (finish): the profile below minus the final 2k, then 300 metres at 2% to the finis

Stage 3: Bétera - Sagunto, 145.0k
The return of Garbí, from its conventional side. This is another GC day, the summit is a bit closer to the line than in the 2018 stage won by Valverde in a three-up sprint and significantly closer than in the 2017 Vuelta stage lit up by Contador.

The uncategorised climb in the first part of the stage (first 15.4k only):

Las Canteras (the little bumps before Oronet):

Oronet (final 4.8k only):

Garbí:

(stages 4 and 5 in a separate post)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Stage 4: Burriana - Alto la Cova Santa (Altura), 189.9k
Second and final uphill finish, not a particularly hard one though.

Ahín:

Collado de Ayódar (first 4.0k only):

Torralba del Pinar (= Felinaque, KOM, same climb where Evenepoel smoked everyone last year) + the actual Puerto de Torralba del Pinar (uncategorised):

Montmayor (first 16.4k only):

Alto la Cova Santa (finish): same profile as above, but only the first 13.9k

Stage 5: Paterna - Valencia, 93.2k
Same junior-length, same stage hosts, radically different route compared to previous years. The mid-stage climb is the other, lesser-known difficult side of Garbí, under a different name.

Oronet:

La Frontera (= Garbí):

 

[Squire]

A few teams looks like they forgot to look at the parcours. Moschetti, Kooij, Kristoff and Molano on the startlist.

 

[Earns1985]

A few teams looks like they forgot to look at the parcours. Moschetti, Kooij, Kristoff and Molano on the startlist.

First stage should be possible for Kooij and Kristoff.

But in general I am looking forward to this race! Especially curious about Rodriguez here. Vlasov also a favourite for the GC!

 

[RedheadDane]

A few teams looks like they forgot to look at the parcours. Moschetti, Kooij, Kristoff and Molano on the startlist.

What was the race last year, when one team just sent a team that was completely the opposite in terms of rider types compared to the race profile?

 

[search]

Kristoff usually likes some hard days of racing to get in shape. Doesn't matter if he gets dropped every day

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What was the race last year, when one team just sent a team that was completely the opposite in terms of rider types compared to the race profile?

Milano-Torino due to its changed route.

 

[RedheadDane]

Kristoff usually likes some hard days of racing to get in shape. Doesn't matter if he gets dropped every day

He might struggle a little on the climbs...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1548736532999192580

 

[yaco]

Think stage five is more likely to be a sprint finish, then on stage one.

 

[Squire]

Think stage fave is more likely to be a sprint finish, then on stage one.

With a 5,5km 9% average climb 40 km from the finish? Sprint, yes maybe, but definitely not a full bunch sprint with your normal sprinter types. Unless they really soft pedal that climb, which would be a surprise considering there must be at least some teams that still feel like they can gain something.

 

[Berniece]

First race of Vlasov and Jungels since he moved to Bora. Wonder if he needs to help Vlasov or ride his own race. Also eager to see Arensman and Carlos Rodriguez after their successful Vuelta.

 

[Potomac]

Those profiles look pretty good.

 

[BR2]

Who's the main man for Ineos? Rodriguez or Arensman? Or are they going with both of them?

 

[search]

also Tao was 3rd here before. No idea if he ever plans to race for results again, though.

Jungels said his first little goal is Paris - Nice, and then winning the Ronde. So probably no plans to go for GC in Valencia.

 

[BR2]

Vlasov's English has a very heavy Italian accent.

 

[glassmoon]

damn those free running dogs on the road... ffs

 

[RedheadDane]

Vlasov's English has a very heavy Italian accent.

Only natural for a French guy of Russian ancestry...

 

[BR2]

Only natural for a French guy of Russian ancestry...

Isn't that Sivakov? I thought Vlasov is entirely Russian, just has been living in Italy for years?

 

[RedheadDane]

Isn't that Sivakov? I thought Vlasov is entirely Russian, just has been living in Italy for years?

Of course... in my defense, I just got home...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Isn't that Sivakov? I thought Vlasov is entirely Russian, just has been living in Italy for years?

Yes, RhD has got her Russians mixed up.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yes, RhD has got her Russians mixed up.

No, I got a Russian mixed up with a French guy...
I'll go get some coffee... maybe that'll make my brain work.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

No, I got a Russian mixed up with a French guy...
I'll go get some coffee... maybe that'll make my brain work.

He's got a lot more Russianness than the average Frenchman though.

 

[RedheadDane]

He's got a lot more Russianness than the average Frenchman though.

And more Frenchness than the average Russian.

Well, I'm not the only one who's confused! Thomas Bay just declared Michael Mørkøv Uni-X DS for the race...

 

[Squire]

No wonder teams come to this area for their training camps. Looks like some awesome roads to ride your bike on. Also very exotic scenery for someone being used to sub-zero temperatures and snow at this time of year ...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This race always make me long for the days of the 2005 and 2006 Communidad Valenciana team.

Well, I'm not the only one who's confused! Thomas Bay just declared Michael Mørkøv Uni-X DS for the race...

At least he got the family right.