Vuelta '20: Stage 1: Irún - Arrate. Eibar (10/20/2020)

[BlueRoads]

On this perfect date we are going to have a perfect stage... or so we hope. The rivalry with the Giro stage 16 will only make this tough Basque stronger!

Map

Finish

Who's your favourite? What do you expect? Any remarks about the route? Any weather forecasts?

San Sebastian in autumn...

 

[SafeBet]

Joao Almeida won't be the only DQS rider in a leader's jersey tomorrow night.

 

[Blanco]

Alejandro Valverde Belmonte will win this bike race!

 

[Amazinmets87]

Profiles? Based on what I see I say Valverde (assuming I can find a time machine and dial it to spring 2017 before the stage begins)

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Joao Almeida won't be the only DQS rider in a leader's jersey tomorrow night.

Im looking at their squad and looking at the final climb and looking at this post in a kind of bewildered infinite loop and I still can’t work out what DQS rider you think will win

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I don't see who's gonna beat Roglic here.

 

[Red Rick]

Finish isn't steep uphill. Sep Kuss in shambles.

 

[Fernandez]

A young Valverde would win this with one leg

 

[hayneplane]

Valverde could have won this blindfolded 5 years ago but now it’s Roglic that will be heavy favourite.

 

[richwallone]

Roglic is going to take it and ride in the leader's jersey all the way to Madrid... LOL... There I said it

 

[Keram]

I feel a bit uncomfortable that there is Giro and Vuelta whole week. I accepted RVV and GW through Giro but this is too much for me personally. But on the bright side if Vuelta will finish we will have 5 weeks of continuing GT racing.

 

[Breh]

This mm/dd/yyyy format is gruelling.

 

[johnymax]

Im looking at their squad and looking at the final climb and looking at this post in a kind of bewildered infinite loop and I still can’t work out what DQS rider you think will win

He obviously thinks of Bagioli. I don't think he can follow the best on the climb.

 

[search]

Valverde could have won this blindfolded 5 years ago but now it’s Roglic that will be heavy favourite.

I don't think so, not if they enter the descent together at least. It's all about experience and positioning, and Valverde has a 2-1-2-1 record at this finish, so he'll certainly know what do to, and it would be a huge surprise not to see him hitting the front at exactly the right time again.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

He obviously thinks of Bagioli. I don't think he can follow the best on the climb.

If Bagioli wins, SafeBet has made one of the most impressive predictions of the season! Is he really good enough for it to be possible already?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Easy Valverde!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Easy Valverde!

it will tell us how much Valverde remains in the 40 year old legs of Valverde. If he doesn’t feature at this finish in this race...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Valverde won in Arrate in the 2017 Vuelta al Pais Vasco, but doesn't seem to have level to do the same again.

I expect that a group will get to the finish together and then it's all about getting first down the descent and through the last corners Samu style.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Roglic is going to take it and ride in the leader's jersey all the way to Madrid... LOL... There I said it

In 2017 Froome rode in the leader's jersey from stage 3 to 21. Jaja did the same in 1995 and in 1994 it was Rominger who went all the way from day one and winning six stages in the process. Really interesting if Rogla can do the same. The team should be strong enough to controll the race.

 

[SafeBet]

If Bagioli wins, SafeBet has made one of the most impressive predictions of the season! Is he really good enough for it to be possible already?

Nope, but last time I wanted to make a silly prediction was Pogacar pulling a Lemond on the final Tour ITT. I didn't post anything and it happened.

So I'm not gonna hold back. It's 2020 after all.

 

[Red Rick]

I think the rider I'm mostly looking at this stage is Froome.

 

[lenric]

Roglic is the old Valverde while the new Valverde is the old Horner, so I expect a Valverde win anyway

 

[Red Rick]

Also

I'm fearing for Contador's 2009 climbing time.

 

[lenric]

I think the rider I'm mostly looking at this stage is Froome.

True, at this point he's gonna get the red one. Question is if it's the jersey, or the lanterne.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Froome to be out of contention after this stage and go all in to help Carapaz. He may end up going in the break for a stage win at some point to prove to himself he still has it. Valverde should come nowhere near winning this Vuelta, top 10 as per usual for him. I'm gonna go for Pinot to prove that he can get another podium in a GT then he needs to get away from FDJ for a change. As for the win, just need to look at the Giro to see that it could be anyone..




But Valverde