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Vuelta 2017 stage 19 Caso (Parque de Redes) - Gijón 149.7 km

Stage 19 in the Vuelta a España travels from Redes Natural Park to Gijón. At 149.7 kilometres, the route takes in four climbs, while the finish lies at the end of a 15.2 kilometres drop.

Redes Natural Park in located in Asturias. The peloton leaves from the village Caso to ride to the base of the first climb. The 7 kilometres up the Alto de Colladona are marked by a 6.8% gradient, while the peak is crested at kilometre 29.

A long descent takes the riders to the foot Alto de San Emiliano – 6.8 kilometres at 4.5% -, shortly followed by the Alto de la Falla de los Lobos, a 4.3 kilometres climb at 8.2%. The Falla de los Lobos is crested with 65 kilometres remaining.

On rolling roads the route continues until a drop takes the riders almost down to sea level. It’s there the Alto de San Martin appears, the last climb of the day starts with a false flat of more than 1 kilometer before the last 3 kilometres go up at almost 10%. A plunge down of 15.2 kilometres leads to to the finish in Gijón.

In the 1940’s Delio Rodríguez took five stage wins in Gijón. More recently Serguéi Smetanin (2002) and ONCE (2003, TTT) powered to the win in the town on the Bay of Biscay.

stage profile
stage-19-profile.png


Alto de la Colladona profile
stage-19-Alto-de-la-Colladona.jpg


final 5 km
stage-19-1km.png


Edit - final climb San Martín 3 km long
San_Martin_de_Huerces_La_Camocha_profile.jpg
 
At just under 150 km, it's not long. Up and down all day - if Aru wants to advertize himself for a new team, he could go long again and take someone with him - ambush! It all depends on how much Sky want/can control the break. Fast and furious.

Edit - see Saturday's stage is only 117,5 km AND it's going to rain from Friday night until Sunday.
 
Re: Vuelta 2017 stage 19 Caso (Parque de Redes) - Gijón 149.

The most obvious breakaway stage of the race, and a pretty decent climb early on to ensure that some decent climbers will get to the final climb, rather than rouleurs and the like. Could be a few seconds here or there on the GC. How technical is the final decent? (i.e. is Zakarin at risk of losing a little time despite his fabulous form)

EDIT: Cyclingquotes describes the final descent as "a long, steep drop without technical complications".

So many winning possibilities. It's an obvious Alaphilippe design but he must be weary after two days in the break.

I'll go with the heart more than the head and say Atapuma.
 
Re:

Laplaz said:
Marczynski to take his third win.

1. The Polish commentators stated today that he was ill.

2. It's not Thursday and Lotto Soudal only win on Thursdays. ;)

Having said that, there is another Thomas who is likely to try and obvious breakaway win is obvious.
 
Jul 14, 2015
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Actually seems like a decent stage for Contador, he can do a final acceleration and might even be let go. He just needs to have some self belief and for once have his team do some work to pull the break back, because Sky isn't going to care..
 
More detailed profile from 39x28altimetrias, specialising in Asturian climbs.

This is the climb from the 2008 Vuelta a Asturias, when LA-MSS went full gas aided by a side wind and dropped everybody except Stefano Garzelli before TTTing in over a minute ahead of the remains of the group. The same climb was used in 2009, Óscar Sevilla, Samuel Sánchez, Freddy Montaña and Héctor Guerra came in 25" ahead of a group of 8 including Santi Pérez, Mancebo, Pardilla and Nuno Ribeiro, then the bunch was at +45".

At the end of 3 weeks' racing time can certainly be won and lost here.
 
Re:

Libertine Seguros said:
More detailed profile from 39x28altimetrias, specialising in Asturian climbs.

This is the climb from the 2008 Vuelta a Asturias, when LA-MSS went full gas aided by a side wind and dropped everybody except Stefano Garzelli before TTTing in over a minute ahead of the remains of the group. The same climb was used in 2009, Óscar Sevilla, Samuel Sánchez, Freddy Montaña and Héctor Guerra came in 25" ahead of a group of 8 including Santi Pérez, Mancebo, Pardilla and Nuno Ribeiro, then the bunch was at +45".

At the end of 3 weeks' racing time can certainly be won and lost here.
Some odd climb classifications in this race. I'd say the first and last climbs are similarly difficult - yet they are Cat 1 and Cat 3 respectively
 
Aug 31, 2012
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Friday 07/09/2017 at 8:30 pm, I was in San Martín de Huerces climbing it (with my car). I was remembering the day I climbed it with my old late 80's/early 90's race bike. I think this climb was included in La Vuelta some years ago and in La Vuelta a Asturias (where the local idol "Chechu" Rubiera attacked the yellow jersey of that Vuelta a Asturias, a man called Miguel Induráin).

You can divide this climb in 4 parts:

The first part: not too hard but a good point for a hard pace

The second part: Contador has to attack at the very begining. A big ramp makes the climb very serious (near a church), we are talking about 15 %, 16 %, 17 % and even 18 %. If Contador goes to a full gas, you can break the peloton here. Then you turn to your right and find more or less 200 metres ramp of 12 % more or less.

The third part: after the last ramp you turn to the left and find the majestuosity of this climb. A big curve which increases the porcentage of the climb 15 %, 16 %, 17 %,18% and a bit of 20 %. I REALLY believe some of the great contenders are going to have problems if Contador tries something here. Believe me, it's really impressive.

The fourth part: the porcentaje decreases this time (5 %, 6%), it's time to go further until the last ramp, more or less a 11%.

In my opinion, Contador has to try to put full gas from the church, San Martín de Huerces is a really good climb to beat great contenders but the problem here is you need someone who could give you some support for the last 15 kms. The descent is not particulary dangerous. Imagine Contandor, Froome and someone more could take 20 seconds from the rest of the group. If they push together, they can arrive to Gijón. So Contador could approach this climb very clear but he needs help for the last kms.

San%20Mart%C3%ADn%20de%20Huerces%20%28perfil%29.jpg


------
The stage:

Alto de la Colladona, 1ª (km 29):  851 m – 7 km – 6,8 %
altodelacolladonanorte.gif

Alto de Santo Emiliano, 3ª (km 64,8):  520 m – 6,8 km – 4,5 %
Falla de Los Lobos / La Casilla, 3ª (km 84,6):  600 m – 4,3 km – 8,2 %
fallaloboslacasilla.gif

Alto de Muncó, np (km 116,5): 375 m – 4,5 km – 3,5 %
San Martín de Huerces, 3ª (km 134,5):  395 m – 4,5 km – 7,2 %

Gretting from Gijón, the city I live. :)
 
Re: Re:

rune1107 said:
Bot. Sky_Bot said:
:surprised: Wait a minute.
Will not Alberto Contador Velasco win this bike race? :surprised:

Red Rick where you at?
There's time for every post
And there's a post for every time

When the dawn comes clear and red
And darkness weighs heavy on the world
The Last Hero will rise one more time
To defeat Great Other, and stop the long night

For the long night is coming, and the bots come with it


Alberto Ahai will win this bike race