Vuelta 2018 Stage 7:Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón 185.7km

[Robert5091]

Onto Friday's stage 7 -

Vuelta 2018 Stage 7uerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón 185.7km start 13.02 CET (Edit - Classified as "flat"!)

Puerto Lumbreras lies some 50 kilometres from the coast and this leg only takes the riders further inland. Except the temperatures along the way to soar into the 40s.

Once the flag is dropped the road rises slightly, which is typical for what the day holds in store. A route that’s going up and down without ever getting steep. Two 3rd category climbs are the biggest hurdles – the first one at kilometre 117, the second one opening up the finale with 12.7 kilometres left to race. After the top the route continues with short drops and ramps to a false flat to the line.

The 7th stage of La Vuelta ends on a local circuit of 50 kilometres, which features the above mentioned climb. The finale opens on a 4.5 kilometres slope at 5.4% before a 4.1 kilometres downhill leads to a 1.7 kilometres climb at 7.8%. Then the road continues as a false flat for 5.5 kilometres. A sharp left-hander appears 300 metres before the line.

Uphill finish -

with a tricky left hander after the flamme rouge

Map

 

[Laplaz]

Here a bit more details for the last 25 km. Looks like an interesting finale.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Breakaway, G. Izagirre.

 

[Koronin]

Stage for the break for the puncheurs.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Wish we had a gradient for final KM. Maybe 3%?

In any case final 20km seems to be grinding false flat with a steeper pitch roughly 6K from the line. Should be easy to thin the field of sprinters if any team takes the initiative to do so. Profile seems tailor-made for an in form Sagan however due to his poor condition he seems unlikely to contend.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

my fantasy calls for Bennot and Prades...
really dont know if they gonna answer,,

 

[Velolover2]

Breakaway. If not Valvede vs. Kwiatkowski.

Kwiatkowski has a better chance this time because the finish isn't as steep.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Breakaway. If not Valvede vs. Kwiatkowski.

Kwiatkowski has a better chance this time because the finish isn't as steep.

This is probably most likely. Sagan doesn't seem to be feeling good enough yet.

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Wish we had a gradient for final KM. Maybe 3%?

In any case final 20km seems to be grinding false flat with a steeper pitch roughly 6K from the line. Should be easy to thin the field of sprinters if any team takes the initiative to do so. Profile seems tailor-made for an in form Sagan however due to his poor condition he seems unlikely to contend.

Looking at the last 5km video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=OOo2BDsDQpo, the last km is 2-3% until the last 100 m when it goes up to 4% - sneaky!

Edit - weather is hot again 34C forecasted. Sweaty ...

 

[Velolover2]

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

 

[Koronin]

Re:

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

Since the stage starts near Valverde's home I wouldn't be shocked if they had him in mind when they came up with the finish. However, it should be a very good stage for several others as well.

 

[railxmig]

Re:

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

I think you're exaggerating with this climbers stage thing. However, i wanted to say yet another non-stage in the absolute middle of nowhere but then these climbs are closer to the line than i remembered. Also, they're quite narrow on no so good surface if i remember. I guess some punchy guys with some sprinting could try to do something.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Here a bit more details for the last 25 km. Looks like an interesting finale.

Thanks

This is so much btter

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

I think you're exaggerating with this climbers stage thing. However, i wanted to say yet another non-stage in the absolute middle of nowhere but then these climbs are closer to the line than i remembered. Also, they're quite narrow on no so good surface if i remember. I guess some punchy guys with some sprinting could try to do something.

If Yates is as good as on Alfacar, he should definitely give it a shot. I think he is the only guy who can pull it off. He has to engine keep his lead, even after a hard attack on the last climb.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Valverde for the win.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm not sure Movi wants to control this alone.

If Sky want to help then I think a sprint of 30 man or less it is.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

I'm not sure Movi wants to control this alone.

If Sky want to help then I think a sprint of 30 man or less it is.

Guess it depends on how much they want to try to set this one up for Valverde and how much Valverde wants this stage. It starts close to his home, so it's also likely he'll have friends and family at the finish of this stage as well as the start of it.

 

[The Chicken]

Re: Re:

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

I think you're exaggerating with this climbers stage thing. However, i wanted to say yet another non-stage in the absolute middle of nowhere but then these climbs are closer to the line than i remembered. Also, they're quite narrow on no so good surface if i remember. I guess some punchy guys with some sprinting could try to do something.

If Yates is as good as on Alfacar, he should definitely give it a shot. I think he is the only guy who can pull it off. He has to engine keep his lead, even after a hard attack on the last climb.

S. Yates is banned from pressing hard on his pedals till Sunday.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

When I think about it, 1.8 km at nearly 8% is a semi-murito. Especially after having raced a 3.5 km hill at almost 7%! This looks like a climber's stage to me. Yates should try to gain more time.

It should be tempting for punchy guys like Yates, Kelderman (who needs to gain some time), Bennett to attack. No sprinters, even the versatile semi-sprinters can survive this if racing is on.

It also tailor-made for the red jersey wearer. Maybe he can surprise?

I think you're exaggerating with this climbers stage thing. However, i wanted to say yet another non-stage in the absolute middle of nowhere but then these climbs are closer to the line than i remembered. Also, they're quite narrow on no so good surface if i remember. I guess some punchy guys with some sprinting could try to do something.

If Yates is as good as on Alfacar, he should definitely give it a shot. I think he is the only guy who can pull it off. He has to engine keep his lead, even after a hard attack on the last climb.

S. Yates is banned from pressing hard on his pedals till Sunday.

In before Yates wins solo and the back stage pass goes

"Is that Yatesy"
"That's him alright"
"must be feeling really good then"

 

[The Barb]

Re: Vuelta 2018 Stage 7uerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón 185.7k

Valverde is suited and will obviously be motivated. But the last few kilometres will be hard for Movistar to control and it will be interesting to see what happens if Quintana struggles at all - a hot day and a short sharp climb is a recipe for him to lose 30 seconds unexpectedly. If he finishes with the GC guys that's a victory for him.

I think a late attack takes it. Dan Martin is the obvious to me, especially since he must be looking for a stage win before he leaves the race for the birth of his child.

Possibly also Dries Devenyns. His result on Stage 2 suggested his form is pretty good and he goes well in the heat.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Vuelta 2018 Stage 7uerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón 185.7k

Valverde is suited and will obviously be motivated. But the last few kilometres will be hard for Movistar to control and it will be interesting to see what happens if Quintana struggles at all - a hot day and a short sharp climb is a recipe for him to lose 30 seconds unexpectedly. If he finishes with the GC guys that's a victory for him.

I think a late attack takes it. Dan Martin is the obvious to me, especially since he must be looking for a stage win before he leaves the race for the birth of his child.

Possibly also Dries Devenyns. His result on Stage 2 suggested his form is pretty good and he goes well in the heat.

Unlikely. Dan Martin posted yesterday or the day before on twitter that his legs just aren't there right now and he's still suffering some from some injuries from the Tour.

 

[42x16ss]

Why didn’t Sunweb take Matthews? There’s been 2 or 3 finishes that suit him well so far...

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Why didn’t Sunweb take Matthews? There’s been 2 or 3 finishes that suit him well so far...

Think he was still having some issues with his shoulder.

 

[movingtarget]

This stage could be a test for the sprinters if it's raced hard. Even if the break doesn't survive I think the group at the finish won't be very big.

 

[Laplaz]

One name. Omar Fraile.