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Neither can Mezgec. Don't really know what Yaco is talking about.
It's two super steep muritos + longer, steady 7-8% climb we are talking about. This is a GC stage.
Pretty much expect the 5 matadors to duke it out. If not for the stage win, then just for the time on GC. They have a pretty nice balance in that different uphill stages suit different GC riders.this actually looks more like a proper pais vasco stage. No chance a sprinter is in there. I doubt the group is larger than 10 at the finish
This is a shorter but more savage version of the Como stage in the Giro
The stage winner will come from the break: Madrazo, Atapuma, Hart?
The favourites will try at the final climb, but Jumbo-Visma will keep the top 5 together.
And with the mental image of that, I don't know if my day can recoverSo, we can expect the Jumbo DS's to have to pee (shorter but more savagely) at the same time Roglic crashes.
Can't see why I couldn't be both. A day for the break and a day where the GC gets a shake up?Some people on twitter whose opinion I respect seem to think this is a GC day. I don't get it. With a big day tomorrow this seems liked a nailed on day for the break.
there was in interview with Fraile in As this morning. He said that he is very likely to stay with Lopez today, as his local knowledge could be key to guide him through the challenging final kilometers.The flat start makes it a lottery to predict who will get into it but for me there is one standout candidate ... Omar Fraile. He has the power and instincts to make the early break and can probably (just) copy with these climbs, provided there isn't a genuine climber in the break. Also, Bilbao is very close to his home town of Santurtzi.
It's harder than Muro de Aia.The Vuelta is really underselling the climbs this year. No way Arraiz is a 3rd Cat.
The Vuelta is really underselling the climbs this year. No way Arraiz is a 3rd Cat.
I was thinking if anyone thinks they're getting to the line before Rogla, they had better get a big gap by the top, because he's proven to be hell of a descender.It's harder than Muro de Aia.
Roglic should try to drop Quintana, Lopez and perhaps even Valverde just to stamp his authority. Give him 3-4 seconds at the top and they will never see him again.
I think more climbs have been oversold than undersold. There have been Cat 2s that even the Tour would be embarrassed to call a Cat 3. Stage 3 had a Cat 3 of 2.7 km @ 4.8%. Stage 5 started with a Cat 2 of 6 km @ 4.7%. Best of all was stage 7 featuring the Puerto de Eslida - a Cat 2 of 6 km @ consistent 4.5% - and a Cat 3 of 4 km @ 4.5%. BrutalThe Vuelta is really underselling the climbs this year. No way Arraiz is a 3rd Cat.