Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 12 (Jaén - Cordoba, 175.0 km)

[Devil's Elbow]

Another early 2010s first week throwback, in this case the Alto del Catorce por Ciento. The 2011 stage saw Liquigas stage an ambush with Sagan winning the stage and Nibali taking time, while Degenkolb won from a reduced bunch in 2014.

The stage is slightly different than either of those, though. Instead of climbing only to the usual summit of San Jeronimo, they continue along the ridge road, used in the opposite direction to descend from Catorce por Ciento previously, as in the profile below.

The climb to Catorce por Ciento is the same as always, but the different descent means the summit is closer to the finish: 18.8 kilometres instead of 27 in 2014 and 23 in 2011.

The finish drags slightly uphill, like in 2014.

 

[Red Rick]

Is this the Nibali/Sagan descent?

Eiking and Martin in the breakaway please.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Is this the Nibali/Sagan descent?

No, as mentioned above:

Instead of climbing only to the usual summit of San Jeronimo, they continue along the ridge road, used in the opposite direction to descend from Catorce por Ciento previously

The climb to Catorce por Ciento is the same as always, but the different descent means the summit is closer to the finish

The descent used now still looks decently technical, though.

 

[sir fly]

What does grow here?
The hottest summer city in Europe, they say.
Cold beer, I suppose.

 

[Netserk]

The "old" descent was CO-3402 on the map in the OP, Red Rick.

 

[ice&fire]

What does grow here?
The hottest summer city in Europe, they say.
Cold beer, I suppose.

And salmorejo

I know they want to avoid a downhill sprint but they could do with a shorter loop between the last climb and the finish.

 

[sir fly]

And salmorejo

Love it!
Even when not hungover.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Presumably the 'Alto del Catorce por Ciento.' was named by cyclists.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This is nevertheless a true icon of old school Vuelta design.

2014 stage 4 (Degenkolb wins sprint of reduced group of circa 60):

2011 stage 6 (the Nibali/Sagan/Lastras/Agnoli descent stage):

2009 stage 15 (Lars Boom wins solo from breakaway, péloton rolls in 25 minutes later):

2008 stage 3 (Tom Boonen wins sprint):

(2006 had a flat run-in)

2005 stage 2 (Leonardo Bertagnolli wins sprint):

2003 stage 17 (David Millar wins solo, Óscar Sevilla gains a few seconds):

2002 stage 9 (Pablo Lastras wins solo):

Óscar Freire also won a stage in Córdoba in 2000 but I can't find the profile right now.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Roglic to attack on the descent.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Wait... The name of the climb is Alto del 14%?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Roglic to attack on the descent.

Why not, eh? No pain, no gain.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Why not, eh? No pain, no gain.

Exactly. He’s tired of handing out gifts.

 

[cen]

Roglic attacks as a double surprise 4D chess move.

 

[roundabout]

2000 stage was flat as well. 1998 was the other occasion with just San Jeronimo+ continuation to Lagar as a separate climb.

 

[Escarabajo]

Finally a stage for Mathews!
Well that depends on the quality of the break away.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Nielsen will get his revenge today.

 

[SafeBet]

Looks good for Romain Bardet if he can get in the break.

 

[Stringer Bell]

This is going to be the hottest day - they will fry out there. Who in the peloton thrives in the heat?

 

[RedheadDane]

Nielsen will get his revenge today.

I know I'm being pedantic, but it just looks so wrong to refer to him as "Nielsen". That would be like talking about how "Nicolau" might be the only one to challenge Roglic.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I know I'm being pedantic, but it just looks so wrong to refer to him as "Nielsen". That would be like talking about how "Nicolau" might be the only one to challenge Roglic.

Now I might be pedantic, but no, that's not really the same. In Denmark you can only have one surname (in this case Nielsen; Cort is a middle name), but in Spain it's custom to have two surnames - one from your father and one from your mother.

 

[RedheadDane]

Now I might be pedantic, but no, that's not really the same. In Denmark you can only have one surname (in this case Nielsen; Cort is a middle name), but in Spain it's custom to have two surnames - one from your father and one from your mother.

But people always refer to him as "Cort". You wouldn't talk how "Jonas Rasmussen" was second in the Tour, would you?

Otoh, referring to the other Dane left in the race as "Andreas Lorentz" would also be wrong.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

But people always refer to him as "Cort". You wouldn't talk how "Jonas Rasmussen" was second in the Tour, would you?

Otoh, referring to the other Dane left in the race as "Andreas Lorentz" would also be wrong.

I get your point, but it goes both ways; You wouldn't refer to Bjarne Riis as Bjarne Lykkegaard, would you? Or Mikkel Honoré as Mikkel Frølich and Jakob Fuglsang as Jakob Diemer either?

Anyway, I think it's fine to refer to him as Cort, I often just prefer to use the surname.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Is Cort his last name or middle name?

If anything he seems to be the one that wants to go by Magnus Cort considering his Instagram is MagnusCort.

 

[MartinGT]

Surly a stage for the break? Who's gonna chase? DQS?

Would love to see LLS take it today.