Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 1 (Burgos - Burgos, 7.1 km / Prologue)

[Devil's Elbow]

We're less than 24 hours away from the first rider rolling down the start ramp the entrance of the cathedral, so about time for a thread.

Start order

The route

Very narrow roads to leave the cathedral area, as the route starts to rise almost immediately. Spanish topographical maps aren't that useful for this, so my profile below will probably be less accurate than usual.

The turn from the cobbles to the steep section of the climb is tight, with a 45-degree right-hander immediately backing into a 120-degree turn left onto the road to the castle, so very low speeds to start the punchiest part of the course.

The descent is wider, but features a chicane at the end. The ensuing section is the most suitable for the big engines, before a return to narrow roads to finish back at the cathedral.

 

[Red Rick]

R O G L S T O M P

Where's the intermediate?

 

[ice&fire]

R O G L S T O M P

Where's the intermediate?

I'd say there must be at least one at the KOM

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Obviously not expecting any substantial differences but Rogla should put some time into his main rivals (i.e. 15-20 seconds). The question is: will he be the leader from the beginning of the race? (like last year)

 

[Pinot's goat]

Landa to lose a minute to Roglic.

 

[Bonimenier]

Padun winning by 1min30.

 

[ice&fire]

Obviously not expecting any substantial differences but Rogla should put some time into his main rivals (i.e. 15-20 seconds). The question is: will he be the leader from the beginning of the race? (like last year)

Roglic lost the lead twice to Carapaz last year: Formigal and Angliru

 

[triley36]

Roglic has to be the favorite, but I’m hoping Magnus Cort can pull this out. Am I wrong to think beyond Roglic, no other rider in the field is obviously better in a short TT than Cort?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Roglic lost the lead twice to Carapaz last year: Formigal and Angliru

Yes, I know. I just asked about the beginning but this time he may keep it the whole race, who knows.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Padun winning by 1min30.

And then they will send him back to Ukraine citing family reasons.

 

[Bonimenier]

Roglic has to be the favorite, but I’m hoping Magnus Cort can pull this out. Am I wrong to think beyond Roglic, no other rider in the field is obviously better in a short TT than Cort?

Cort definitely is up there. I think I'd rate Tratnik slightly higher for tomorrow. Probably should fit Pidcock pretty good as well. Maybe guys like Schachmann and Matthews can finish close.

 

[Red Rick]

Obviously not expecting any substantial differences but Rogla should put some time into his main rivals (i.e. 15-20 seconds). The question is: will he be the leader from the beginning of the race? (like last year)

He wasnt in red all Vuelta last year

 

[Red Rick]

Cort definitely is up there. I think I'd rate Tratnik slightly higher for tomorrow. Probably should fit Pidcock pretty good as well. Maybe guys like Schachmann and Matthews can finish close.

Any reason to expect a top 5 from Pidcock?

 

[Lequack]

Clearly Tratnik will win this stage.

 

[triley36]

Cort definitely is up there. I think I'd rate Tratnik slightly higher for tomorrow. Probably should fit Pidcock pretty good as well. Maybe guys like Schachmann and Matthews can finish close.

Good call on Tratnik. I overlooked him. I am interested to see how Pidcock goes. Has he done a TT this year?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Any reason to expect a top 5 from Pidcock?

Not really. He claims his form isn't there and his focus isn't, either.

 

[Bonimenier]

Any reason to expect a top 5 from Pidcock?

I don't know if he'll finish that high because there are no real references, but short with some climbing and turns feels ideal for him. As a former junior WC ITT, he should have a decent TT in the legs.

 

[Bonimenier]

Not really. He claims his form isn't there and his focus isn't, either.

I read in an interview that he didn't celebrate his Olympic title too long and focused on his next goals rather quickly. Those are probably the WC and PR though.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I read in an interview that he didn't celebrate his Olympic title too long and focused on his next goals rather quickly. Those are probably the WC and PR though.

Interesting. Could be that he was sandbagging in this interview:

Tom Pidcock puts Tour de France debut back until 2023

Mountain bike gold medalist to ride the Vuelta but will focus on Classics before any transition to Grand Tours

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Luthor]

Probably a Slovenian win here. I can even see Roglic and Tratnik taking 1-2.

 

[sir fly]

What do you, people, think the winning time shall be?
...roughly.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What do you, people, think the winning time shall be?
...roughly.

9 minutes, but it will also depend on the wind speed and direction.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

9 minutes, but it will also depend on the wind speed and direction.

Upon further inspection it might be closer to 10 minutes actually.

 

[sir fly]

Upon further inspection it might be closer to 10 minutes actually.

My further inspection is going below the initial.
... closing to the organizer's schedule.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

My further inspection is going below the initial.
... closing to the organizer's schedule.

What is their estimate?