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Vuelta 2018 stage 14:Cistierna - Les Praeres de Nava 171km

Your weekend fun begins with stage 14 -

Vuelta 2018 stage 14: Cistierna - Les Praeres de Nava 171 km start 12.55 CET

The 14th stage in the Vuelta a España ends at a summit that has never been included in the Spanish Grand Tour. Les Praeres is a 4 kilometres toil with an average gradient of 12.5%. The 171 kilometres route takes in four intermediate climbs.

The race sets off in Cistierna to return to Asturias over the Puerto de San Isidro (1,520 metres) and continue to an unprecedented arrival at Les Praeres de Nava. The climb in the Sierra de Peñamayor is a 4 kilometres torture with an average gradient of 12.5%. The final haul up kicks in hard with a 16% slope in the first 2.2 kilometres.
Possibly, the break of the day takes shape on the first uphill, which is unclassified and peaks at 8.6 kilometres. The route continues to the aforementioned San Isidro before the riders drop down a descent of almost 30 kilometres to the foot of the next climb, Alto de la Colladona, which is reached halfway. The Colladona is a 5.3 kilometres ascent with an average gradient of 7.1%

And on it goes to the Alto de la Mozqueta, a 9.4 kilometres climb at 6.2%. A short drop leads to an equally short uphill before the route drops down to San Martín del Rey Aurelio, and 4 kilometres later the penultimate uphill begins. The Alto de la Falla de Los Lobos climbs for 5.2 kilometres at 6.7%. The summit is crested with 21 kilometres remaining and following a drop and a flat section of around 10 kilometres the final haul up appears.

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Alto de la Colladona
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Alto de la Mozqueta
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Alto les Praeres Nava
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more details of Alto les Praeres Nava climb
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Map of the stage
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La Mozqueta is basically the same climb as La Colladiella, where Heras launched his attack on Menchov on the way to Pajares in 2005. Think of these two cols as three roads making a Y junction like that of Glandon/Croix de Fer.

EDIT: I'm looking at the detailed route and it seems they are climbing to la Mozqueta on a parallel road to the one they used in 2005 on the other side of the same valley.

Delgado also warns about a narrow and fast (down to -15%) descent just before the final climb; which is hidden in the official profile by the fake 3D effect, just like the hills before the finish at the Faro de Estaca de Bares.

Spanish TV will broadcast the whole stage.
 
Re:

ice&fire said:
La Mozqueta is basically the same climb as La Colladiella, where Heras launched his attack on Menchov on the way to Pajares in 2005. Think of these two cols as three roads making a Y junction like that of Glandon/Croix de Fer.

Delgado also warns about a narrow and fast (down to -15%) descent just before the final climb; which is hidden in the official profile by the fake 3D effect, just like the hills before the finish at the Faro de Estaca de Bares.

Spanish TV will broadcast the whole stage.

Thanks for the info! :) This could be THE STAGE of the Vuelta if we're lucky.
 
Oct 5, 2010
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Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 14:Cistierna - Les Praeres de Nava 17

I know the narrow descent before the Praeres climb. It's very tricky and now the descent has a good tarmac. I visit the climb in January and there is no tarmac....
 
I'll go with someone from the break wins it. Maybe De Marchi gets a 2nd stage win? (Of course it could be another one of the pro conti riders, esp since today's DS said that they have been saving several of their riders to go out in these mountain breaks to stage hunt).

Probably only a few seconds here or there between the GC guys.
 
Re:

Koronin said:
I'll go with someone from the break wins it. Maybe De Marchi gets a 2nd stage win? (Of course it could be another one of the pro conti riders, esp since today's DS said that they have been saving several of their riders to go out in these mountain breaks to stage hunt).

Probably only a few seconds here or there between the GC guys.

I would highlight Sergio Pardilla. Wasn't in today's breakaway and did 3rd in the stage of Vuelta a Burgos than ended in Lagunas de Neila (also has the last 2 kms with an average above 10%). I think that the profile of Mikel Bizkarra suits more the climbs in Andorra. It can always appear another O.Rodriguez, unknow to me until today.
 
Re: Re:

jfazendeiro said:
Koronin said:
I'll go with someone from the break wins it. Maybe De Marchi gets a 2nd stage win? (Of course it could be another one of the pro conti riders, esp since today's DS said that they have been saving several of their riders to go out in these mountain breaks to stage hunt).

Probably only a few seconds here or there between the GC guys.

I would highlight Sergio Pardilla. Wasn't in today's breakaway and did 3rd in the stage of Vuelta a Burgos than ended in Lagunas de Neila (also has the last 2 kms with an average above 10%). I think that the profile of Mikel Bizkarra suits more the climbs in Andorra. It can always appear another O.Rodriguez, unknow to me until today.


Good thought on Pardilla.
 
Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 14:Cistierna - Les Praeres de Nava 17

HelloDolly said:
Gigs_98 said:
So which high caliber climber who goes for stage win hasn't been beaten by a mediocre climber on a mtf yet?


Machado v Porte

Boswell v Nibali

2 good match bets there

Porte might wait till next week,who knows but it's the sort of stage he will be interested in. Surely he will want to test his climbing form before the Worlds. Same with Nibali.
 
These small gaps are making me nervous. There's a danger that Quintana and Valverde finish 2nd and 3rd behind Yates or Urán (or 3rd and 4th). This would be an excellent stage for a team effort, with some of those rather short but steep Asturian middle mountains, but has Movistar enough left after yesterday's pointless work?
 
Good thing about the final climb is that it peaks in km2, and that after that it kinda turns into a gradient where being in the wheel matters a little bit more again, so if you want to put down the hammer you want to do it early
 
If the break wins, lets hope they have +15 min at the bottom of the climb. I dont want to see Simon Clarke battling with Mark Padun and Sergio Henao for the majority of the time.

I think Quintana takes the jersey today