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

[Robert5091]

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

map of stage

Final 5 km map ( a difficult left hander with 2 km to go)

Final 5 km profile

 

[Robert5091]

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?

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

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?

Looks more like 2%

What's that downhill at 2km though

 

[Gigs_98]

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.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Anything official of gradient of final KM? How tough does it need to be for Sagan to have the edge?

 

[Robert5091]

Re: Re:

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?

Looks more like 2%

What's that downhill at 2km though

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!

 

[Laplaz]

Viviani ftw of course.
Someone knows if there is a possibility of echelons?

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Viviani ftw of course.
Someone knows if there is a possibility of echelons?

There will be a SW crosswind but it's forecast to be not very strong. I don't think a team will use up valuable energy as well.

 

[Robert5091]

Biggest danger will be a slow moving peloton with crashes a la Froome 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CEHsxviqOg

 

[DanielSong39]

Viviani for the win!

No GC action.

Aru does not finish with GC peloton.

 

[Robert5091]

Come on Sven Erik!

2 minutes 15 secs lead only with 125 km to go? (edit - see there's a tailwind) QS & Trek are not leaving anything to chance!

 

[del1962]

Wonder is Movistar will try to bring break back before sprint

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Anything official of gradient of final KM? How tough does it need to be for Sagan to have the edge?

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

 

[Laplaz]

Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 18:Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186

Where is Kittel btw in this Scheldeprijs?

 

[search]

Re: Re:

Anything official of gradient of final KM? How tough does it need to be for Sagan to have the edge?

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

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.

 

[Laplaz]

Although nothing is happening of course, after the third hour the average speed is 45,66 km/h. Not bad after the last two tough days.

 

[spalco]

Re:

Wonder is Movistar will try to bring break back before sprint

I don't think they should invest energy in that. But if it comes together, I would hope Valverde gives it a shot.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 18:Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186

Pernsteiner abandons after his crash yesterday.

 

[Laplaz]

Who would have thought this would be so close in the end

 

[More Strides than Rides]

35" with 4.6k to go

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Re: Vuelta 2018 stage 18:Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida 186

Please no bonus seconds for Valverde!

 

[More Strides than Rides]

21" as the peloton goes through the 2k banner

 

[Lexman]

peleton in two parts says Sporza?

 

[spalco]

That's fun, will be close.

 

[glassmoon]

lol