Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 6 (Requena - Montaña de Cullera, 158.3 km)

[Devil's Elbow]

Another flat day, with the exception of the hill used for the finish.

The final climb is identical to the one used in the 2020 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, which saw Tadej Pogacar besting Alejandro Valverde - Movistar may well decide this is the day they chase down the breakaway. It matches the first 2.2 kilometres of the profile below.

 

[Red Rick]

Movistar shouldn't chase

I expect Astana and TBE to chase. Roglic to win.

Don't think Elissonde should lose the jersey here already.

 

[yaco]

TBE shouldn't be chasing as the final is too hard for Matthews - I think a breakaway will take the stage - Trek want to retain the jersey so have no desire to take Roglic to the finish - Movistar could be the spoilers for the break.

 

[search]

Roglic to win.

Don't think Elissonde should lose the jersey here already.

this means you expect Elissonde to finish 2nd in the sprint?!

 

[Faserr]

I also think JV won't chase the group. And other teams won't chase because they know that Roglic will win.

 

[Escarabajo]

Roglic

 

[Red Rick]

this means you expect Elissonde to finish 2nd in the sprint?!

Oh wait the gap is only 5 seconds.

I thought it was 25.

My bad.

 

[BigCoward]

Honestly, they might as well just start at the bottom of the climb and sack off the rest of the stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Finish at the same spot as in Valenciana 2020?

 

[Luthor]

Tomorrow we will know if TJV is really weak or it was just an accident on Picon Blanco. This is a very good stage for Roglic and probably red jersey through bonus seconds. But if they are weak they will just let the breakaway go. Trek would definitely not work.

 

[roundabout]

seems like the coastal road is sheltered

 

[search]

Finish at the same spot as in Valenciana 2020?

something like 50-100m or so further up the road, as far as I can see

edit: this is tomorrow's:

in Valenciana they finished right before that final double left-hander

 

[Devil's Elbow]

something like 50-100m or so further up the road, as far as I can see

edit: this is tomorrow's:

in Valenciana they finished right before that final double left-hander

Seem to remember them finishing just after a left-hander?

 

[sir fly]

View: https://youtu.be/Hq4X7bZx31I

 

[Netserk]

View: https://youtu.be/Hq4X7bZx31I

Wrong finish.

 

[search]

Seem to remember them finishing just after a left-hander?

the Valenciana Roadbook isn't really clear about it, but I'd say this before the first sharp left-hander. Well, or maybe in the middle of it

 

[Red Rick]

Seem to remember them finishing just after a left-hander?

Yeah but now they do the full 180 instead of only 90.

I rewatched the Valenciana stage and I think that one had quite a low pace in the peloton. I definitely think an attack in the final 300m can create gaps.

 

[Red Rick]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1428080619913891853

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1428080619913891853


Tbh that seems slow as molasses for a 5 minute climb

 

[Tricycle Rider]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KL9mRus19o&ab_channel=BlackstreetVEVO

 

[Blanco]

Tomorrow we will know if TJV is really weak or it was just an accident on Picon Blanco. This is a very good stage for Roglic and probably red jersey through bonus seconds. But if they are weak they will just let the breakaway go. Trek would definitely not work.

Roglic deliberately let the jersey on stage 2, why the hell would he want it now? He'll have it already at stage 7, or at Velefique. He won't force his team to chase I think, of course he will sprint for the win if all comes together at the end...

 

[Andre]

This could be a real interesting stage only if the whole peloton enter into the climb together. Then we would see a mad dash to the top. With the power of today's cyclists it would be a 3rd category climb/sprint/resiliency/stamina ending.

 

[Luthor]

Roglic deliberately let the jersey on stage 2, why the hell would he want it now? He'll have it already at stage 7, or at Velefique. He won't force his team to chase I think, of course he will sprint for the win if all comes together at the end...

He doesn't want red, but I don't see Elissonde competing for it if peloton comes together. If he wins, Elissonde needs to come 2nd to keep the jersey. If this was the TJV from TDF they would go for it to get Roglic even more bonus seconds and a stage win. If Roglic's form is good they should try to get him more seconds. I'm not saying they should pull alone but giving a hand to another team like Movistar/Astana. Otherwise that team would just give up if the breakaway is decent. Playing defensive in the first week might bite him in the 3rd week. It already happened last year.

I can see Movistar interested in chasing it but would they pull all day long if they don't get any help from any others? Doubtful. They know that even while Valverde has a good chance there is also the risk that Roglic would get more seconds against Mas/Lopez.

 

[Tonton]

No Purito? In the bag for The Don....mark my words ...

 

[SHAD0W93]

Valverde is going to want this stage and should be favorite with Roglic.

 

[Sciatic]

Valverde is going to want this stage and should be favorite with Roglic.

That would be fun to see. He seemed to have good climbing legs in Stage 3. . .