Vuelta 2018 Stage 8:Linares - Almadén 195.1km

[Robert5091]

The weekend starts off with stage 8

Vuelta 2018 Stage 8:Linares - Almadén 195.1km start 12.10 CET (and yes, another "flat" stage )

The route of the Vuelta a España's 8th stage sets off in Linares to roll in northwesterly direction. Amounting to 195.1 kilometres the race finishes in Almadén on a gentle slope with a 7% kick just before the line.

In the 2015 Vuelta the route also moved through this part of Spain. The riders cut through Linares on their way to Cazorla, where an intriguing battle for the overall lead was played out by Esteban Chaves and Tom Dumoulin. The Colombian not only won the stage, he also took the red jersey from the Dutchman.

Now the route goes the other way and enters the Parque Natural Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro. In the Natural Park the riders tackle the Alto de Españares, a 3rd category KOM-climb of 10.3 kilometres with an average gradient of 3.6%. No downhill though, the route follows a gradual and rolling descent to the sweltering plains north of Córdoba.

Following a flat section of 10 kilometres, the finale begins 6 kilometres before the line with a 2.4 kilometres slope at 3.4%, while the last 2 kilometres are averaging 3.8% and also feature a 7% kick with 200 metres to go.

Last 5km

finish is a wonder to behold!

Edit - weather forecast is for a very sweaty 37 C ("but feels like 39C"!) ... good day to sell cold drinks.

 

[MatParker117]

Sagan

 

[Koronin]

Valverde

 

[barmaher]

Sagan

 

[Red Rick]

Anyone have a more detailed profile of the last 10km or so?

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Anyone have a more detailed profile of the last 10km or so?

This is the video of the last 5km at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=xK7HcRFsNko

From https://twitter.com/LasterketaBurua/status/1035564259298762753

Last km should be fun with the 180 around a roundabout, then up what looks like an untarmaced road.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Anyone have a more detailed profile of the last 10km or so?

This is the video of the last 5km at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=xK7HcRFsNko

From https://twitter.com/LasterketaBurua/status/1035564259298762753

Last km should be fun with the 180 around a roundabout, then up what looks like an untarmaced road.

Thanks. That's definitely too hard for Viviani.

Sagan vs Valverde with maybe Kwiat and Trentin in the mix

 

[Screecher]

Re: Re:

Anyone have a more detailed profile of the last 10km or so?

This is the video of the last 5km at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=xK7HcRFsNko

From https://twitter.com/LasterketaBurua/status/1035564259298762753

Last km should be fun with the 180 around a roundabout, then up what looks like an untarmaced road.

Thanks. That's definitely too hard for Viviani.

Sagan vs Valverde with maybe Kwiat and Trentin in the mix

Trentin was dropped before Viviani today so he's unlikely to be in the mix.

 

[Gigs_98]

This finish really has Sagan written all over it.

 

[Keram]

If Bora can hold it together this is Sagans to lose. He would won today if McCarthy and Formolo had not to save Manny B. But man two stages in row when Valverde and Sagan can sprint together for the win ( Although they sprinted for second today). Vuelta is so special.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Final 20km is much easier than today's stage last few hundred meters not withstanding. This bodes well for heavier riders such as Sagan. I'd mark him as the favorite. Valverde to nab a few seconds on GC rivals in addition to time bonus for top 3 placement. He's setting himself up to hold all 3 jerseys with a strong performance on stage 9

 

[railxmig]

Re: Re:

Anyone have a more detailed profile of the last 10km or so?

This is the video of the last 5km at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=xK7HcRFsNko

From https://twitter.com/LasterketaBurua/status/1035564259298762753

Last km should be fun with the 180 around a roundabout, then up what looks like an untarmaced road.

The streetview is from 2008. Since then the road was resurfaced and widened up significantly. Look up the satelite image.

 

[Blanco]

If there's a sprint then definitely Sagan. Too easy for Valverde...

 

[movingtarget]

The sort of stage where riders nod off in the heat and silly crashes happen. Hopefully not. Looks like one for the sprinters.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Porte.

 

[The Barb]

I'm really confused about how this finish will play out. I would've thought it was clearly too hard for all the sprinters except (perhaps) Sagan but a number of people whose opinion I respect are saying Viviani. I dunno. Kwiatkowski maybe to bounce back if he's not sore from his crash.

Bigger picture, Miguel Angel Lopez is looking great. If he again avoids a time loss on this stage then I think he should be the GC favourite.

 

[WheelofGear]

Sagan.

 

[WheelofGear]

These finishes are always unpredictable. It hard to judge who will survive.

For example: What kind of finish will eliminate the most sprinters?

1 km at 6%
or 2 km at 4,5%
or 4 km at 3%

 

[Koronin]

Re:

These finishes are always unpredictable. It hard to judge who will survive.

For example: What kind of finish will eliminate the most sprinters?

1 km at 6%
or 2 km at 4,5%
or 4 km at 3%

Good question. Also have to remember the sprinters who are here. The ones that are here can climb at least a little. The next question becomes who exactly in this field do you consider a sprinter. Obviously Sagan, Viviani, Trentin, Bouhani, and Nizzolo, after this group then do you put Valverde, Yates, and Martin into the list?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A break or Valverde.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

These finishes are always unpredictable. It hard to judge who will survive.

For example: What kind of finish will eliminate the most sprinters?

1 km at 6%
or 2 km at 4,5%
or 4 km at 3%

Good question. Also have to remember the sprinters who are here. The ones that are here can climb at least a little. The next question becomes who exactly in this field do you consider a sprinter. Obviously Sagan, Viviani, Trentin, Bouhani, and Nizzolo, after this group then do you put Valverde, Yates, and Martin into the list?

Sagan, Viviani, Trentin, Bouhanni, Nizzolo, then Van Poppel, Consonni, Aberasturi, Sarreau, Mezgec, Walscheid, Gibbons, Soto, Restrepo, Garcia Cortina. Of course Valverde is likely to feature in today's stage and he might very well win, and he could also top-10 regular sprint stages if wanted to, but there are plenty more sprinters than the 5 you mentioned.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'll be keeping an eye on Edu Prades. He was 4th yesterday.

 

[tobydawq]

I think this will be a very predictable stage with Bora keeping everything in check, setting Sagan up for the win, which he will duly take ahead of some of the same riders as yesterday - I will throw Gibbons into the mix though. He impressed me yesterday and today's finish seems easier.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

These finishes are always unpredictable. It hard to judge who will survive.

For example: What kind of finish will eliminate the most sprinters?

1 km at 6%
or 2 km at 4,5%
or 4 km at 3%

It really depends on where the steepest part is, etc.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

These finishes are always unpredictable. It hard to judge who will survive.

For example: What kind of finish will eliminate the most sprinters?

1 km at 6%
or 2 km at 4,5%
or 4 km at 3%

Good question. Also have to remember the sprinters who are here. The ones that are here can climb at least a little. The next question becomes who exactly in this field do you consider a sprinter. Obviously Sagan, Viviani, Trentin, Bouhani, and Nizzolo, after this group then do you put Valverde, Yates, and Martin into the list?

Sagan, Viviani, Trentin, Bouhanni, Nizzolo, then Van Poppel, Consonni, Aberasturi, Sarreau, Mezgec, Walscheid, Gibbons, Soto, Restrepo, Garcia Cortina. Of course Valverde is likely to feature in today's stage and he might very well win, and he could also top-10 regular sprint stages if wanted to, but there are plenty more sprinters than the 5 you mentioned.

The hill puts Valverde and Kwiatkowski ahead of most of the lesser sprinters in the Vuelta.

Just looked at the results of some other, similar finishes, in the last km it doesn't take much at all to bring the eliminate pure sprinters from winning and bring GC riders in the bottom end of the top 10.