Vuelta a España 2019 stage 19: Ávila - Toledo > 165.2 km

[Red Rick]

 

[Red Rick]

Apparently the finish was at 485m in 2010, so this finish is quite a bit harder than way back when

 

[Lequack]

Doesn't look like wind will have much effect tomorrow so it should be a rest day for the GC guys. I predict they finish about 15 minutes behind the break, unless the sprint teams want to have a chance.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm guessing QS will try to keep it together for Gilbert.

If both Bora and QS want a sprint it will happen.

 

[Scarponi]

Other than Bennett this race is full is prolific non winning sprinters, surely they cant let this go

 

[Pantani_lives]

In the beginning of the Vuelta Gibert said that this was his best chance to win a stage.

 

[Red Rick]

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Perfect day to get some work done, and then switch on with 20k to go

 

[Northerner]

Three stages to go, and there are three World Tour teams without a GT stage this year (DD, CCC and Ineos since the TdF Iseran stage has no official winner). Wouldn't bet on any of them putting that right tomorrow.

 

[ice&fire]

Two hairpins and a 360º corkscrew loop in the last 600m. All this after 5km of downhill.

 

[Red Rick]

Two hairpins and a 360º corkscrew loop in the last 600m. All this after 5km of downhill.

There's definitely gonna be gaps tomorrow.

 

[ice&fire]

There's definitely gonna be gaps tomorrow.

I fear for the crashes at the hairpin turn before the street in the first pic in your post. Does this count as a flat stage with the last 3km protection rule?

 

[Red Rick]

I fear for the crashes at the hairpin turn before the street in the first pic in your post. Does this count as a flat stage with the last 3km protection rule?

I don't know

 

[sir fly]

I fear for the crashes at the hairpin turn before the street in the first pic in your post. Does this count as a flat stage with the last 3km protection rule?

Yes, it does.
Regardless, there's gonna be relentless pace 'cause every gap counts.

 

[Velolover2]

The last k is more than 6%.

It might be too much for Bennett if the Steppers drill it from the bottom. I'm going with PhilGil again.

Valverde or Roglic could even win it.

 

[Lequack]

Gilbert will make Quickstep sorry they're letting him go by winning so many stages.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Dont think Valverde will feature, at least not for the win. He seems to have lost a decent amount of explosiveness to be able to climb better. Happy to be proven wrong!

My pick is definitely Phil Gil.

 

[Koronin]

Dont think Valverde will feature, at least not for the win. He seems to have lost a decent amount of explosiveness to be able to climb better. Happy to be proven wrong!

My pick is definitely Phil Gil.

I'm going with this. It does appear that his weight loss to go after one more Vuelta has cost him some of his sprint ability.

 

[ice&fire]

Gilbert got a sword 9 years ago. Will they give him a shield if he wins tomorrow?

 

[Breezy1985]

A flat/classics rider like Quintana could gain 5 mins on a stage like this

 

[sir fly]

Gilbert got a sword 9 years ago. Will they give him a shield if he wins tomorrow?

Scabbard.

 

[Lequack]

A flat/classics rider like Quintana could gain 5 mins on a stage like this

Especially if it's windy, as he is somewhat of a crosswind specialist.

 

[ice&fire]

Scabbard.

That'd be as cheap as doing the podium celebration with beer.

Interesting fact: the first four men in the 2008 Vuelta stage that finished at Toledo were two world champions and two future world champions.

 

[sir fly]

That'd be as cheap as doing the podium celebration with beer.

Only if the leather one it is.
Beer is cool.

 

[movingtarget]

Looks like another Gilbert stage. I guess Roglic will be paying more attention at the start of this one. The break probably won't survive on this stage. Maybe a bit of GC action on the finale.