Vuelta 2018 Stage 11: Mombuey - Luintra 207.8 km

[Robert5091]

Wednesdays stage -

Vuelta 2018 Stage 11: Mombuey - Luintra 207.8 km (Vuelta calls it "hilly" so it's up & down all the long day)
(Edit - start early 12.04 CET)

The 11th stage of the Vuelta a España travels from Zamora to Luintra, where Simon Yates soloed to victory in 2016. The hilly route amounts to 207.8 kilometres.

It’s been two years since the Vuelta last visited Luintra. That finale was marked by the Pombar-climb, a 2 kilometres ascent at 7.5% with steepest ramps of 9%. Simon Yates attacked in the main group, gobbled up early attacker Mathias Frank, and soloed to victory. Over the Pombar-climb there were 3.6 kilometres remaining – firstly a flat and with 2 kilometres to go a downhill section, that ran to a 500 metres false flat run-in to the line.

The finale of 2018’s 11th stage is exactly the same.

But before that the riders face a long, hard and hilly day in the saddle. The Puerto de Padornelo is the first climb (6.5 kilometres at 3.7%), and on it goes via the Alto de Covelo (9.3 kilometres at 3.6%), Alto de Trives (11 kilometres at 4%), Alto del Mirador de Cabezoas (15.5 kilometres at 3.2%), and a host of non-classified hills in between those KOMs.

The Alto del Mirador de Cabezoas is crested with 17.8 kilometres remaining before the riders fly on descent to the above-mentioned finale.

Lumpy final 5 km

 

[Valv.Piti]

This looks like a very nice stage. Break takes the stage, but theres still opportunities to gain a few seconds in the finale. Wish the final lille climb was tougher.

 

[Koronin]

I'm also going with the break takes this stage. Otherwise looks like a nice stage.

 

[tobydawq]

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

 

[Laplaz]

One of the toughest stages of the whole Vuelta if you look at the altitude gain, around 3,500. Agree with you above, break will take it and nothing will happen GC wise. Ah and another thing, this is also the longest stage of the Vuelta with "only" 208km.

 

[Robert5091]

2016's stage 6 result when Yates (S) won and finished 29 seconds in front of Valverde at -

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2016/stage-6

It was shorter (163.2 km to tomorrow's 207.8 km) too.

Cycling News report of the stage at -http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-espana-2016/stage-6/results/

 

[Amazinmets87]

If break doesn't take it I expect GC action over the final KMs. The availability of bonus seconds will incentivize riders with a strong kick

 

[Red Rick]

I have waited months to say this

Vincenzo Nibali will win this bike race

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I have waited months to say this

Vincenzo Nibali will win this bike race

Pretty sure you said it mid July

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

I have waited months to say this

Vincenzo Nibali will win this bike race

Pretty sure you said it mid July

Feels like months ago

I have to cherish these moments. I'm still having withdrawal from the "Alberto Contador will win this bike race" that I once accidentally posted that on a tennis forum.

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be that Luintra is the town's name and Ribeira Sacra is the municipality name.

 

[railxmig]

Re: Re:

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be that Luintra is the town's name and Ribeira Sacra is the municipality name.

I am a rare example of actually loving this naming convention, but sometimes it is a bit on the ridonculous side like that Pozo Alimentacion stage from last year (it was Alhama de Murcia). I see people liking the stage but for me it looks like a breakaway Giro-style affair, where ultimately nothing happens. But i guess the last 5-7km will have some pace as the GC splits are still quite small and i'm not sure how badly Valverde wants the red. Also not sure about Ion, as normally he should be good with such finishes (but then Yates should also be happy with this finale).

 

[Red Rick]

How steep is the final hill? And the final km? Nothing will happen before the final hill

 

[Tonton]

Re:

How steep is the final hill? And the final km? Nothing will happen before the final hill

From the map posted , it looks like 35m elevation in 700m more or less, 5% roughly, maybe 4%...

I hope to see a little GC action. Nice stage design IMO.

Who will do the tempo to stay close to a BOD? I don't think too many teams will want to burn fuel just yet. BOD takes it. And regardless, it's an opportunity to catch someone sleeping or attack and let teams look around for someone else to do the work. Small GC gaps, gaps nonetheless.

 

[ice&fire]

Re: Re:

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be that Luintra is the town's name and Ribeira Sacra is the municipality name.

You got it almost right. Ribeira Sacra is not the name of an administrative entity but the name of the area around the canyon of River Sil (yes, that's two gorge stages in a row) and the banks of other nearby rivers. The name is used for the promotion of tourism and it is also the name of a designation of origin for wines produced in that area. Ribeira Sacra can be translated to English as Sacred Shore, and it makes reference to the abundance of monasteries and churches in the river shores.
As the stage finish is paid by the province of Ourense rather than the town of Luintra, they have requested the touristic label to be part of the stage name.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be that Luintra is the town's name and Ribeira Sacra is the municipality name.

You got it almost right. Ribeira Sacra is not the name of an administrative entity but the name of the area around the canyon of River Sil (yes, that's two gorge stages in a row) and the banks of other nearby rivers. The name is used for the promotion of tourism and it is also the name of a designation of origin for wines produced in that area. Ribeira Sacra can be translated to English as Sacred Shore, and it makes reference to the abundance of monasteries and churches in the river shores.
As the stage finish is paid by the province of Ourense rather than the town of Luintra, they have requested the touristic label to be part of the stage name.

If it's about wine, then Pinot wins it .

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Sagan from break?

By the way: Can anybody clarify the very annoying official names for stage finishes. Why would a full stop ever have a place in the name of a finishing city?

I'm not 100% sure but it seems to be that Luintra is the town's name and Ribeira Sacra is the municipality name.

You got it almost right. Ribeira Sacra is not the name of an administrative entity but the name of the area around the canyon of River Sil (yes, that's two gorge stages in a row) and the banks of other nearby rivers. The name is used for the promotion of tourism and it is also the name of a designation of origin for wines produced in that area. Ribeira Sacra can be translated to English as Sacred Shore, and it makes reference to the abundance of monasteries and churches in the river shores.
As the stage finish is paid by the province of Ourense rather than the town of Luintra, they have requested the touristic label to be part of the stage name.

If it's about wine, then Pinot wins it .

Sure why not. I like that idea.

 

[movingtarget]

This should sort out the sprinters. Probably the break takes it and there should be some GC action but maybe not for much time loss.

 

[dgodave]

I anticipate some fine hill-towns.

 

[Jagartrott]

I expect a proper battle to be in the break, and Fraile to win.

 

[Scarponi]

Fraile

 

[Robert5091]

Weather forecast is a chance for showers so that'll cool down the riders.

 

[Flamin]

Wasn't this the stage finish where Movistar applied some hilarious tactics in 2016? I think so.

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

How steep is the final hill? And the final km? Nothing will happen before the final hill

http://inrng.com/2018/09/vuelta-a-espana-stage-11-preview-luintra/

... the unmarked climb to Pombar where the road gets wider but not easier with 2km at nearly 8% to reach the 4km to go point.

...a wide descent from Pombar down to Luintra with one tricky bend and then a sharp left-hander at the 1km to go point, a couple of hundred metres downhill and then finally the road rises gently up the the line.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Wasn't this the stage finish where Movistar applied some hilarious tactics in 2016? I think so.

Yep, it was pretty horrendous...