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Vuelta 2018 stage 18:Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186.1k

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Robert5091

Robert5091

Mar 29, 2016
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Thursday's stage - the one we've all been waiting for -

Vuelta 2018 stage 18: Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186.1 km start 13.08 CET

Stage 18 in the Vuelta a España travels from Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida. Amounting to 186.1 kilometres, the route is tailor made for fast finishers.

Zero ascents in a race of over 180 kilometres. Are we talking La Vuelta here? Yes, we are. Some false flats and a number of rolling sections – that’s it. Fast finishers, go for it!

Three years ago, the Spanish Grand Tour visited Lleida after a few days of hard climbing in Andorra. Now it’s the exact opposite. In the 19th stage the Vuelta a España sets out to Andorra for the last two mountain stages. In 2015, Danny van Poppel won the sprint in Lleida, finishing ahead of Daryl Impey and Tosh Van der Sande.

Fast finishers in this year’s 18th stage should keep in mind that a false flat of 500 metres begins with 700 metres out. The last 200 metres are flat.

profile
stage-18-profile.jpg


map of stage
stage-18-route.jpg


Final 5 km map ( a difficult left hander with 2 km to go)
stage-18-finish.jpg


Final 5 km profile
28488
 
Gigs_98

Gigs_98

Feb 18, 2015
13,407
8,825
28,180
Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 18:Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186

Now that Quickstep has the chance to get a gc podium they might not put all resources in pulling back the break which might give attackers a chance. I still expect a sprint though. On another note, what's up with the profile and that sudden 50 meter drop 2 k from the finish. Is that a tunnel or something different that messed up the profile or do they really descend a 20% ramp 2 k from a sprint finish.
 
Robert5091

Robert5091

Mar 29, 2016
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Re: Re:

Red Rick said:
Robert5091 said:
Not so flat finish with a 4% last km section. Weather forecast - sunny and up to 30C at the finish. Weak south westerly wind.

Viviani or break by 20 minutes?
Click to expand...
Looks more like 2%

What's that downhill at 2km though
Click to expand...

I've no idea how the Vuelta people came up with that finish profile. According to the video of the last 5 km (at https://youtu.be/T_to9cvR_p8 ) the descent begins with about 3.8 km to go and then goes up again with about 700 meters to go. Either that or someone's done something at that 2 km to go roundabout!
 
Cance > TheRest

Cance > TheRest

Apr 17, 2013
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Re:

Amazinmets87 said:
Anything official of gradient of final KM? How tough does it need to be for Sagan to have the edge?
Click to expand...
Not official, but according to Cyclingstage's routeplanner, there is a 500m stretch from 900m to 400m to go that rises 6 meters. 1.2% gradient should not cause problems for any sprinter
 
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Aug 29, 2009
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Re: Re:

Cance > TheRest said:
Amazinmets87 said:
Anything official of gradient of final KM? How tough does it need to be for Sagan to have the edge?
Click to expand...
Not official, but according to Cyclingstage's routeplanner, there is a 500m stretch from 900m to 400m to go that rises 6 meters. 1.2% gradient should not cause problems for any sprinter
Click to expand...
it's more than that, more like 3-4% over that stretch. Actually the final Kilometer is the same as in 2015, when van Poppel won the sprint.
 
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