Vuelta a España - Stage 19 Piedrahita - Toledo 231.2km

[taiwan]

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.

I think this must be the finish.

 

[search]

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.

when McEwen won the first stage of the Eneco Tour the profile of the finish was even harder, so I wouldn't rule it out, but I agree that it's very unlikely

 

[jens_attacks]

breakaway or:

1.Gillbert
2.Rodriguez
3.Nibali

 

[insideout leadout]

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.)

HTC is not the only team in the bunch. If Cav is out of contention for the stage win it will motivate other teams to chase the break. Thinking of Katusha for Pozzato, Lotto for Gilbert and every other team not represented in the break.

 

[insideout leadout]

when McEwen won the first stage of the Eneco Tour the profile of the finish was even harder, so I wouldn't rule it out, but I agree that it's very unlikely

The stage where EBH dropped the hammer on his foot.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kreder I hope

99% sure he'll have to work for Farrar.

They told him somewhere in the first week to drop all thoughts of escaping in Farrar-like stages. He's only allowed to attack in the mountains, but since he has no chance of winning there, he'd rather save energy.
Working & finishing, that's all that is possible for now.

 

[Scirea]

HTC is not the only team in the bunch. If Cav is out of contention for the stage win it will motivate other teams to chase the break. Thinking of Katusha for Pozzato, Lotto for Gilbert and every other team not represented in the break.

Katusha won't waste energy before the Saturday Showdown.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Is this the same finish as is 2008 ? That was strictly for the hill finishers - Bettini won from Gilbert and Valv while the likes of Bennati and Zabel couldn't compete. Could be a chance for Rodriguez to grab some time back

Potential for the bad weather and crosswinds that didn't quite materialize yesterday too. All in all, could be a very nervous day for the GC riders, and one that Mosquera in particular will be very happy to come through unscathed

 

[luckyboy]

Comparison of the two profiles. 2010 top and 2008. Lots of attacks on that hill that day.

 

[Scirea]

Seems like the finish is exactly the same.

 

[luckyboy]

Yeah. Looks like the little hill has somehow changed shape though

 

[Scirea]

Yeah. Looks like the little hill has somehow changed shape though

I don't know about that but the last 10 kilometers what really matters and it's the same.

 

[insideout leadout]

Yes I think it's the same.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//vuelta08/?id=results/vuelta086

 

[hrotha]

Yeah. Looks like the little hill has somehow changed shape though

You know, the wind, the rain...

Speaking of which, 231 km in bad weather, with headwind, one day before the decisive stage of the Vuelta, two days before the finish, in late September? Does this look like they'll arrive before 6 pm?

 

[insideout leadout]

The ghost of L'Aquila just swept over Toledo.

Sweet memories from the Giro can all act up today.

 

[roundabout]

It's not the same. Instead of climbing the 2008 hill all the way up they take a left turn onto a road that goes along the southern bank of the river and come back to Toledo via another bridge that i posted pictures of basically from the opposite direction (east instead of west)

 

[Polyarmour]

That small hill 5km out, looks like a 150m vertical climb over 3-4km??? Does anyone have more detail on it?

I'd love to see Gilbert drop everyone here but I don't know whether it's tough enough to gap the field.

 

[Moncoutie]

Breakaway! Breakaway! Breakaway! Breakaway! Breakaway! Or Cav

 

[craig1985]

At least the stage winner gets one of these badboys (the sword, not Paolo Bettini ):

I think Rabobank would want to get a rider or two in the break today and hope they stay away, it would look pretty bad if they finish the season without a GT stage win.

 

[blaxland]

At least the stage winner gets one of these badboys (the sword, not Paolo Bettini ):

I think Rabobank would want to get a rider or two in the break today and hope they stay away, it would look pretty bad if they finish the season without a GT stage win.

Is rabobank the only Protour team without a Gt stage victory this year?

 

[Sasquatch]

Columbia will just throw someone in the break like they did on another stage. Martin Velits or Lars Bak. Maybe even Goss.

 

[Scirea]

Columbia will just throw someone in the break like they did on another stage. Martin Velits or Lars Bak. Maybe even Goss.

So? I don't think Garmin would give their all for Farrar on a stage like this, before the Saturday Showdown when Danielson will need help from Peterson for example. Plus they lost Zabriskie, that's a lot of horsepower. Liquigas won't chase for Bennati before neither, if they will they are *** imo. Who would chase then? Maybe Footon, they said the finish is suited for Cardoso. Or perhaps Lotto for Gilbert/Van Avermeat... Either way i don't think there will be a lot of will-power to chase.

 

[royalpig180]

So? I don't think Garmin would give their all for Farrar on a stage like this, before the Saturday Showdown when Danielson will need help from Peterson for example. Plus they lost Zabriskie, that's a lot of horsepower. Liquigas won't chase for Bennati before neither, if they will they are *** imo. Who would chase then? Maybe Footon, they said the finish is suited for Cardoso. Or perhaps Lotto for Gilbert/Van Avermeat... Either way i don't think there will be a lot of will-power to chase.

If Gilbert thinks he wants to do one more big effort before resting up for worlds (i.e. soft pedaling the rest of the Vuelta) than I'd bank on Lotto chasing down the break if there's an HTC guy in it. If not, we'll see the Velits bro's on the front again

 

[Sasquatch]

So? I don't think Garmin would give their all for Farrar on a stage like this, before the Saturday Showdown when Danielson will need help from Peterson for example. Plus they lost Zabriskie, that's a lot of horsepower. Liquigas won't chase for Bennati before neither, if they will they are *** imo. Who would chase then? Maybe Footon, they said the finish is suited for Cardoso. Or perhaps Lotto for Gilbert/Van Avermeat... Either way i don't think there will be a lot of will-power to chase.

I'm just pointing out Columbia won't do any work tonight. They will throw someone in the earlier break. If they don't have anyone in the break, they will chase and set it up for Goss.

 

[Sasquatch]

Also Katusha will have to work tonight if Caisse attack - which I give a 100% chance of happening.