Vuelta a España - Stage 19 Piedrahita - Toledo 231.2km

[The Hitch]

Vuelta a España - Stage 19 Piedrahita - Toledo 231.2km

 

[khardung la]

It is more tricky than the profile suggests, hard demanding roads in the first half, wind exposed roads and lots of small hills the last half. Anyway, I don't think much will happen regarding the GT contenders, they should save energy for the next day.

 

[roundabout]

after a short boring stage comes a long boring stage

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

That hill in the final might be interesting though.

Start watching at 17:15 or so

 

[togo95]

Gilbert for the win

 

[Scirea]

Breakaway might make it this time.

 

[Jukebox]

Gilbert to give it a go on that hill ~5k to go.

 

[icefire]

I'll never understand what's the point of having the longest stage as late, with such a non-decisive profile and just on the eve of Bola del Mundo.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Break will get a little bit of rope, then Columbia will stick Peter Velits on the front and pull it back for Cav.

Where's Anthony Roux when you need him?

 

[The Sheep]

Kreder I hope

 

[The Hitch]

after a short boring stage comes a long boring stage

It will all be worth it for saturday though. Hopefully.

 

[Jamsque]

I think the finale looks too tough for Cav, providing the pace is high.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Cardoso or Bole for the win!

 

[Sophistic]

The profile on the Vuelta homepage is pretty confusing, there is this "bump" at ~KM226 but according to the stage details its pretty flat and at lower altitude than the finish...
The final km could also be interesting, thats like 550m@7%, probably enough for someone like Rodriguez.

 

[Frosty]

The profile on the Vuelta homepage is pretty confusing, there is this "bump" at ~KM226 but according to the stage details its pretty flat and at lower altitude than the finish...
The final km could also be interesting, thats like 550m@7%, probably enough for someone like Rodriguez.

For some reason today's, tomorrow's and yesterday's stages all have the same last 3kms on the official page.

I agree with you though, looking at the OP's last 3km, that is a fairly steep climb, i think Cav will be struggling on that. Looks like one for Gilbert to me?

 

[kurtinsc]

I'll be a little suprised if HTC chases the break down. Not sure who's going to take responsibility for the chase in the pelaton tomorrow.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Kreder I hope

I am hoping for nearly 3 weeks now

 

[Credive]

If cavendish has ambitions to do something in Geelong he certainly has to make it through this stage. If he is not there for the sprint Goss probably will. One of them for the victory

 

[Scirea]

I'll be a little suprised if HTC chases the break down. Not sure who's going to take responsibility for the chase in the pelaton tomorrow.

Probably nobody if all riders in the break will have at least 40 minutes gap behind Nibali.

 

[vcampbell]

If cavendish has ambitions to do something in Geelong he certainly has to make it through this stage. If he is not there for the sprint Goss probably will. One of them for the victory

When Gilbert accelerates, then Cavendish has got no chance to go with him.

 

[Frosty]

Maybe Velits will fancy it and get a few bonus seconds?

 

[roundabout]

The profile on the Vuelta homepage is pretty confusing, there is this "bump" at ~KM226 but according to the stage details its pretty flat and at lower altitude than the finish...
The final km could also be interesting, thats like 550m@7%, probably enough for someone like Rodriguez.

Yes, this "bump" is not much at all, i've walked up that road and it most likely won't be enough to get a gap on the sprinters. A bigger issue is a 90 degree turn before a relatively narrow (two lanes only) bridge over the river

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65595512@N00/342858515/

you can see the descent off the "bump" and the bridge

on the other side there's another 90 degree turn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65595512@N00/2003749442/

before a relatively shallow rise and a turn left onto the climb

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3852585

which is followed by a sharp right just a few hundred meters before the line

It's not a simple finish, but it shouldn't be beyond the sprinters

 

[insideout leadout]

The profile on the Vuelta homepage is pretty confusing, there is this "bump" at ~KM226 but according to the stage details its pretty flat and at lower altitude than the finish...
The final km could also be interesting, thats like 550m@7%, probably enough for someone like Rodriguez.

And it might just be enough for Nibali to distance Mosquera with some precious seconds.

 

[roundabout]

here's a better picture of the final ramp

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...oid=X-XjJ-4QlDGecFRmUXYilA&cbp=12,269.66,,0,5

 

[Scirea]

Yes, this "bump" is not much at all, i've walked up that road and it most likely won't be enough to get a gap on the sprinters. A bigger issue is a 90 degree turn before a relatively narrow (two lanes only) bridge over the river

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65595512@N00/342858515/

you can see the descent off the "bump" and the bridge

on the other side there's another 90 degree turn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65595512@N00/2003749442/

before a relatively shallow rise and a turn left onto the climb

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3852585

which is followed by a sharp right just a few hundred meters before the line

It's not a simple finish, but it shouldn't be beyond the sprinters

There is a 500m section in the last km where it's around 7-8%. No way Cav and co. could handle that against guys like Gilbert. (But i say it again, a breakaway will get home, just because Cav knows he can't win here.)