Vuelta a España 2014 Overview

[Arnout]

Vuelta a España 2014 Overview

The 69th edition of the Vuelta a España is about to begin and as I've done a few years back, I'm going to present the route in the firsts post of this topic. Ever since (and maybe even before) the ASO took over Unipublic, the Vuelta site uses the same terrible template as all the other ASO races. It's just impossible to get a quick overview of the race or of the stages to come without having to click multiple times, so this topic should be a help for everyone who is as annoyed by that as I am.

The Vuelta tends to avoid the central part of the country, certainly in recent years. The heat, the lack of spectactors and the boring long and wide roads are simply not very suited to bike racing. Of course, the final weekend used to make up for that, with spectacular stages on Bola del Mundo and the processional final stage in the streets of Madrid. This year, even that part is skipped as the Vuelta finishes in Santiago de Compostela after 3240km and 40 categorized climbs, 3 weeks after its start in Jerez de la Frontera.

I will edit this post to include a startlist a few days before the race starts.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 1, Saturday August 23 | Jerez de la Frontera - Jerez de la Frontera | 12.6km Team time trial Stage URL

The Vuelta starts with a short team time trial, as per usual. A completely flat stage through the streets of Jerez de La Frontera, home of the most important pre-season testing circuit of the Formula 1 calender, which shouldn't create big gaps among the teams. The route isn't very technical and a long and nearly straight road leading out of the city should give the teams with the powerhouses the biggest chance of stage victory and the first leaders jersey, if they manage to avoid trouble in a couple of 180 degree turns in the final part of the stage.

Stage 2, Sunday August 24 | Algeciras - San Fernando | 174.4km Stage URL

A completely flat stage that looks easy on paper, but the route takes the riders along the Atlantic coast of Spain. Winds permitting, some teams might be able to create a bit of suspense by trying to create echelons. The riders start in Algeciras, a city near the colonial leftover of Gibraltar. Just after the start, the riders head south, climb a small inland mountain and descent towards to coast, to never really leave it again. The king of the mountains jersey will probably go to the breakaway rider with the best climbing legs and the stage victory could well go to a sprinter, but it isn't at all sure that that sprinter needs to be able to beat every other sprinter.

Stage 3, Monday August 25 | Cádiz - Arcos de la Frontera | 197.8km Stage URL

An interesting stage, with a mountainous middle part that will probably shed the real sprinters and a final kilometer that goes uphill, I'd estimate with an average of about 3 to 4 percent. Powersprinters, but maybe also guys like Valverde, are the favourites to win in this stage that starts in the port city of Cádiz, with some beautiful imagery to come during the stage, when the riders cross the Sierre de Grazalema natural park.

Stage 4, Tuesday August 26 | Mairena del Alcor - Córdoba | 164.7km Stage URL

Another stage with hills during the race and a flat finish. This time, real sprinters like Kittel stand nearly no chance. A touch 2nd category climb 30kms from the finish will almost certainly be too much for them. The conditions will be tough, this is one of those stages in the Southern part of Spain were temperatures can rise above 30 or 35 degrees. Hopefully the cyclists can still enjoy the view of the finishing city of Córdoba, home to one of the most strikingly beautiful cathedrals of the world, with a style influenced by both Moorish and European architecture. The riders will actually do a loop in the city, so they should have enough chance to spot it, with the stage ending on the main avenue in the center of the city.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 5, Wednesday August 27 | Priego de Córdoba - Ronda | 180km Stage URL

A very similar stage to last stage, with a climb upsetting an easy win for a sprinter, although this climb should not be as much a problem for most of the sprinters. Interestingly, the race goes back down south, starting in a city south of the finish place of yesterday and ending nearly on a line with the starting city of the race. It's clear that the organizers are looking to avoid the central part of Spain as much a as possible. I'd imagine this stage will actually be the least interesting of the race so far, it should be a typical Vuelta stage with hazy pictures, a lone Andalucia rider in the break and a sprinter winning in the end.

Stage 6, Thursday August 28 | Benalmádena - La Zubia | 167.1km Stage URL

This stage marks the first real test for the GC guys, even though the final climb of first category will be the setting of a sprint stage more than of a mountain stage. Starting near Málaga and ending on a plateau near Granada, this is a typical Vuelta day with a relatively easy run-in to some very hard final kilometers. The Alto Cumbres Verdes is the final climb of the day and with 440 vertical meters in 4.6km, it averages nearly 10%. The real gradient is even higher, due to a flat section in the beginning of the climb. Any GC guy should be at the front here, but expect a real puncheur to win.

Final climb, the Alto Cumbres Verdes (4.6km, 7.8%):

Stage 7, Friday August 29 | Alhendín - Alcaudete | 169km Stage URL

By this point I'm out of words to describe a stage taking place in the same region, using the same sort of terrain. The sprinters won't have an easy time, but the GC men do not have to worry about losing time other than through own stupidity today. I'd say there is a good chance a breakaway rider wins this stage, the uphill stretch near the end of the race isn't hard, but coupled to the categorized climbs during the day the sprint teams might just let this one go, depending on their sucess in the first days of the race.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 8, Saturday August 30 | Baeza - Albacete | 207km Stage URL

A stage of over 200km is always news in the Vuelta, but this first day of the second weekend is the most straightforward day of the race so far. Discounting extreme circumstances, none of the sprinters should have any trouble and the first guaranteed sprint finish with all the big names should be quite an event (I think this will come back to haunt me, considering I probably overestimate the difficulty of the first few days). This is also a transition stage from the Southern part of the race to the Northern part, which automatically means the race barely used any of the mountainous terrain of the Sierra Nevada this year.

Stage 9, Sunday August 31 | Carboneras de Guadazaón - Aramón Valdelinares | 185km Stage URL

The easiest stage so far is followed by the most difficult stage so far. A tough final climb of 8km in length and 6.6% in gradient is preceded by a little climb of the second category that should shed a big chunk of the peloton, meaning the final climb will be much less a mountain sprint than a real mountain top finish. The real climbers are going to have to wake up, even though the favourites might still be using the wait and see tactic. The real fireworks will start close to the finish. A flatter section in the middle part of the climb is followed by two kilometers at 8.5%. I expect the race to cautiously explode here, if that's a thing. A small group will survive and a few riders will be able to return in the last, nearly flat, kilometer, to battle for stage honors.

Final climb, the Aramón Valdelinares (8km, 6.6%):

Rest day, Monday September 1

Stage 10, Tuesday September 2 | Real Monasterio de Santa María de Veruela - Borja | 36.7km Individual time trial Stage URL

Its a good thing this stage is not the other way around or the commentators would have a much harder time telling in which place exactly the riders cross the finish line. It also means this time trial is slightly downhill for most of its duration, although it won't allow anyone to freewheel, it rather gives an advantage to the riders able to push the big gear. Real climbers will have to limit their losses here, expect a specialist to win the stage. As with any time trial, reading the results afterwards will be a very similar experience to reading the times on the screen as it happens.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 11, Wednesday September 3 | Pamplona - Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar | 153.4km Stage URL

Timetrial out of the way, its time to kickstart this race with a stage starting in the bull fighting city of Pamplona. As the Vuelta seems happy to avoid the home of Spanish cycling, the Basque country, again, expect to see a lot of Basque fans lining up on the final climb near the border of their territory. That will give some color to the final ascent in what is a typical day in the Vuelta, certainly once we enter the September month. An easy and short stage followed by a tough mountain top finish apparently gives the most bang for the bucks for the Spanish organizers and TV broadcaster. Be that as it may, this should be a good final climb. It's the longest so far and its irregularity coupled to an average gradient of 7.5% will test the riders in ever-changing circumstances. The first real time differences in the mountains will appear and I will go on a bit of limb here, but I'd say after this stage it should be quite easy to predict the winner of the Vuelta, or certainly the two riders that are going to battle it out until the end, a direct result of a route like this in which riders are tested on one speciality alone.

Final climb, the Alto de San Miguel de Aralar (9.9km, 7.5%):

Stage 12, Thursday September 4 | Logroño - Logroño | 166.4km Stage URL

This stage seems to feature every year, this loop of around the Spanish city of Logroño. I figure the mayor of this town is a cycling fan, because this is not a stage one needs to include every year to create spectacle. Expect 1, 2 or 3 riders in front, with a sizable gap to the peloton, before they are reeled in for the obligatory sprint finish.

Stage 13, Friday September 5 | Belorado - Obregón, Parque de Cabárceno | 188.7km Stage URL

The Vuelta has shied away from steep, short finishing hills this year, but this stage comes close. A ramp about 1.5km from the finish could actually be the best chance for a variety of riders to win a stage this year. Expect climbers like Purito Rodriguez, but also powerhouses like Martin to be at the front. The stage won't be much to write home about, but the final 5km will be one of the more unpredictable ones. It should also be beautiful as the race finishes in a national park just south of Santander.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 14, Saturday September 6 | Santander - La Camperona, Valle de Sabero | 200.8km Stage URL

A monster stage in length, this should once again be a stage for the climbers, or maybe for a successful breakaway group. Its an interesting profile to look at, with a climb at the halfway point transitioning the race from sea level to a plateau at altitude (everything to a avoid descents, I guess). The final climb kicks up again from that altitude. I don't imagine that the time at altitude will be a serious problem for any rider, but it could mean that some riders will do better or worse than normal due to a relative lack of oxygen during the day (hey, one has to write something...).

Final climb, La Camperona (8.3km, 7.5%):

Stage 15, Sunday September 7 | Oviedo - Lagos de Covadonga | 152.2km Stage URL

Obligatory Lagos de Covadonga stage is quite good usually. I seem to remember they tend to place this climb early on this race, but this time its the climb that marks the end of the second week. The scenery will be something to behold, as will the climbing, hopefully. The easy stage preceding the climb, 2nd category climb notwithstanding, might mean it will take some time to light up the proceedings. I don't expect a solo victory, but rather a sprint between 4 or 5 riders on the final steep slope.

Final climb, Lagos de Covadonga (12.2km, 7.2%):

 

[Arnout]

Stage 16, Monday September 8 | San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo | 160.5km Stage URL

Yay, a real mountainstage, with descents and everything! Any GC rider that has been lacking on the final climbs so far, but feels he is improving will be able to mount a challenge from farther out than usual. The final climb might be the longest, but the lack of a flat section between the mountain top finish and the climb that precedes it means there is at least a possibility of more than just a standard "put the team on the front till most guys are gone, then attack for the final 2km" scenario possibility. Definately the most interesting stage of the Vuelta, this one, hopefully it lives up and opens the eyes of the organizers.

Second climb, Alto de Cobertoria (10km, 8.8%):

Third climb, Puerto de San Lorenzo (10.1km, 8.5%):

Final climb, La Farrapona (16.5km, 6.2%):

 

[Arnout]

Rest day, Tuesday September 9

Stage 17, Wednesday September 10 | Ortigueira - A Coruña | 190.7km Stage URL

Easy day, with some small climbs to just give that glimmer of hope to anyone not listening to the name sprinter. Once again, the wind can come into play as the riders race alongside the North Western part of Spain near the Atlantic coast, but I'm not an expert on wind so I will just say nothing is going to happen.

Stage 18, Thursday September 11 | A Estrada - Monte Castrove, Meis | 157km Stage URL

I'd expect a breakaway to make it at this point, its a perfect chance for a rider that was too tired o battle for GC. Or too fat, I'm looking at you Carlos Alberto. Apparently the final 5 kilometers are really steep, with percentages shooting up til 12%, but it doesn't seem to be that typical Vuelta like ramp to a decaying Mirador. I can't see any of the GC riders bothering with this, although Contador fans might differ in their opinion.

Stage 19, Friday September 12 | Salvaterro do Miño - Cangas do Morrazo | 180.5km Stage URL

I hadn't looked at this stage profile when I wrote about last stage, but this looks even more like a breakaway stage. I think Tiralongo will win here, but don't put money on it. Most teams will be resting to deliver a final effort the next day.

 

[Arnout]

Stage 20, Saturday September 13 | Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil - Puerto de Ancares | 185.7 Stage URL

Is this a mythical final climb? The name certainly rings a bell, but I don't think it featured in the last couple of Vueltas, although I bet I'm wrong about that. It might very well become mythical after this year if it isn't already, because this is the final chance for GC contenders to repair or defend their final standing this years Vuelta a España. The stage is reasonably well designed, the first category climb preceding the Ancares is crucial in creating the circumstances for riders to shine or fail. Hopefully the final real stage of the final GT of the year delivers, after this stage its all about hills.

Second to last climb, Alto de Folgueiras de Aigas (9.7km, 6.7%):

Final climb, Puerto de Ancares (12.7km, 8.7%):

Stage 20, Sunday September 14 | Santiago de Compostela - Santiago de Compostela | 9.7km Individual time trial Stage URL

Breaking with silly traditions is always a good thing and I rather like this short final time trial through the streets of this culturally and historically significant city. The final stage in the Vuelta didn't have the grandeur of the entrance in Paris anyway, so I'm hoping that this works. It's interesting that the race ends here and not in Madrid, meaning the biggest cities of Spain, namely Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, are all avoided. My gut feelings says that's not the best idea if one wants to attracts sponsors, but what do I know. Generally, this time trial shouldn't change too much in the final standings, but if some riders are very close, time trials after the last mountain stage are the most interesting to watch. This day ends a very familiar feeling Vuelta, with lots of mountain top finishes, almost no downhills and little variety in profiles. However, I do feel like there is not one superhard stage that will attract all attention, which should promote racing on more than one day, so that's a good thing. Bring it on.

 

[infeXio]

Nice!

You have posted 2 similar stage profiles for stages 3 and 4 though!

Here's the one for stage 3:

 

[Arredondo]

Ancares is called the Spanish Galibier, so it's good anyway

Purito won here in 2012, and in 2011 they had the Ancares also in the route in the stage to Ponferrada.

But this one is harder, because it is longer and from the more difficult side of the Ancares.

 

[Arnout]

Nice!

You have posted 2 similar stage profiles for stages 3 and 4 though!

Here's the one for stage 3:

Thanks, repaired!

Ancares is called the Spanish Galibier, so it's good anyway

Purito won here in 2012, and in 2011 they had the Ancares also in the route in the stage to Ponferrada.

But this one if harder, because it is longer and from the more difficult side of the Ancares.

See, I knew it, its a completely unused climb

 

[Liquigas]

This thread shows how horrible is the Vuelta route. Thanks.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

I see they've changed stage 19 a bit, anybody know why?

The original version looked more promising.

 

[the sceptic]

seems to be a lot of Sagan stages

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I see they've changed stage 19 a bit, anybody know why?

The original version looked more promising.

we wouldn't want anybody to actually gain from descending...

Only uphill sprints counts in the Vuelta.

 

[deValtos]

First I've seen of the route, seems a bit lackluster.

Hopefully the GC battle will keep it interesting.

 

[fauniera]

Thanks Arnout.

Stages 16 and 20 almost look like real mountain stages, this could be good.

 

[ILovecycling]

Thanks for this thread,useful

 

[barmaher]

I think people on here are far too quick to criticise grand tour routes.

That said, this is the worst GT design in many a year. It actually makes my eyes bleed.

Such a shame, as it happens to coincide with the most interesting GC lineup in many a year.

 

[Luigi_Max]

Thanks Arnout.

Stages 16 and 20 almost look like real mountain stages, this could be good.

Stage 16 is good, stage 20 is also decent. Stage 15 is okay as well, there is nothing wrong with a good climb at the finish of a flattish stage as long as the other mountain stages provide variety. I think such a stage makes a good first stage of a trio on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend.

The other mountain stages are not great. However the two main problems with the route are stage 12, that could go and the trio of 17, 18, 19, two of them okay, three is not okay. Also the lack of an descent finishes is typically Vuelta but is still disappointing. A lumpy time trial instead of stage 12 and a genuine long descent finish instead of stage 19 at the route would be much, much better. Improve one or two of the other mountains stages and it would be a really good route.

 

[Arredondo]

In the base stage 13 and 18 are not bad too. You can attack from further out if you want, definitely the case with stage 18.

And in stage 13, if i did a correct calculation, you've got a 800 meter wall of 14% at 2.5 km to go.

In fact:
2.6 km-1.8 km at 14%
1 km- 300 meters at 3%

 

[Kwibus]

Very dissapointing route.
The more I appreciate the TdF route of this year,which was really good. Not perfect, but really good.

Your work is appreciated Arnout.

 

[icefire]

Too many copy+paste errors with the profiles

Climb profiles for stage 16:

This is La Cobertoria (10km @ 8.8%)

And this is the second last climb, San Lorenzo (10.1km @ 8.1%)

Copy-paste error also in stage 20. This is the final climb to Ancares (12.7km @ 8.7%)

Watch out for the wind in stage 8.

 

[roundabout]

The last good echelon stage that I can remember happened in the dark days of Isidro Nozal being a win contender