Vuelta 2018 Stage 4:Vélez-Málaga - La Alfaguara 161.4km

[Robert5091]

Tuesday's stage -
Vuelta 2018 Stage 4:Vélez-Málaga - La Alfaguara 161.4km start 13.19 CET

Following the start in Vélez-Málaga the route moves along the Costa del Sol to turn inland in Almuñécar. La Vuelta follows the A-4050 to Jete and Otívar. This the Carretera de la Cabra – road of the goats -, an 18.2 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 5.2%. Following a short descent the route continues to climb for 5.8 kilometres at 4% before the riders fly down to the Embalse de los Bermejales.

Starting at the reservoir the route climbs to the plateau on which Granada sits. A prolonged downhill false flat runs to the old town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The race moves through Granada and shortly hits the final climb in the Sierra de la Alfaguara – 12.4 kilometres at 5.4% with its steepest ramps halfway up.

Alto de la Cabra Montés

Puerto de Alfacar

 

[Escarabajo]

Valverde again!

 

[Robert5091]

So tomorrow we have "The road of the goats" and last year was n't it the "road of the cows" where Froome blew up? It's all getting very agricultural

Prediction - A select group at the end with a few digs to check out the legs and opposition.

 

[May0maniac]

I guess that Movistar will try to keep the breakaway in check for Valverde to take the stage win + bonus seconds.

 

[Robert5091]

Weather forecast is for gusty winds again and 35C tops - sweaty!

 

[Red Rick]

Added a more detailed profile of the final climb to the OP

Expecting this to be a little less controlled all the way to the finish.

 

[Lequack]

Uran or Yates will win this stage.

 

[ecw445]

Can't see any team committing to catching the break since there's no obvious winner

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Added a more detailed profile of the final climb to the OP

Expecting this to be a little less controlled all the way to the finish.

You have 16 kilometers of climb. The Vuelta site has 12 km with the same altitude. There is a disconnect somewhere?

Note: I see now. The first 3.5 milometers do not feature in the original profile

 

[GraftPunk]

I'm feeling an unsuccessful Dan Martin suicide mission, but have no clue will win.

 

[Valv.Piti]

A nice first MTF. It should be enough to provide some good racing, Im thinking it will be a little like Etna from this years Giro, but possibly a little less selective.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

I fear Movi will try to control as much as they can so Bala can do his thing at the end..
how many times have we seen this?? even if Nairo have the legs...

 

[Koronin]

Unless a break actually stays away it's another stage for Bala. He showed yesterday he's got the form to win some stages.

 

[Tonton]

Giro-ish, stage 4 then stage 9 first week anti-meh design...I won't complain. If Simon is the Giro Simon, he'll show something. Valverde ftw seems like a no-brainer. I'm curious to see who will lose time, 20" or 30"that will count in the end. If raced hard, it's enough for some (little) damage to be inflicted. You can't hide your cards too much. Defensive riding and digs ftw: Kwiat will survive this.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Valverde, Uran, Kwiat.

 

[Velolover2]

Kwiato might be able to survive this. I don't know what to except other than Movistar setting the pace.

 

[Gigs_98]

I expect a finish similar to stage 2 just with the group behind being a lot more thinned out

 

[The Barb]

I think this is for the break. Not sure Movistar will be interested in chasing for Valverde.

With 50km of flat to start the stage it's hard to predict, but someone from BMC will be there (Demarchi and/or Tuens, most likely, especially since they both dropped time on Stage 3) and Benoot, who knows this area well.

 

[Koronin]

I think this is for the break. Not sure Movistar will be interested in chasing for Valverde.

With 50km of flat to start the stage it's hard to predict, but someone from BMC will be there (Demarchi and/or Tuens, most likely, especially since they both dropped time on Stage 3) and Benoot, who knows this area well.

In a break you'll also get at least one rider each from the 3 Spanish Pro Conti teams and if Mate is really going after the KOM jersey he'll be in the break to go after whatever KOM points he can find.

 

[Black Betsy]

Bala win is imminent.

 

[Laplaz]

Why is everyone thinking that Movistar will have to control the break? There is still a team named Sky.
Nevertheless, Bala to double up!

 

[Robert5091]

There's a whole bunch of guys who need to show themselves if they want to be podium material - Pinot, Zakarin, Bennett, Martin, Aru etc.

 

[The Barb]

Re:

Bala win is imminent.

As imminent as on the sprint stage yesterday where you also predicted he would win?

 

[Popchu]

Hermann Pernsteiner from the break, although more realistically Valverde with Kelderman coming third.

 

[Bolder]

35 degrees and windy should cause some breaks in the peloton. This is the perfect stage for MAL to show what he's made of.