Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2022, stage 19: Talavera de la Reina - Talavera de la Reina, 138.3 km

[Devil's Elbow]

Stage 19, and it's one of the oddest GT stage designs I can remember. It consists of two laps of a ~60-kilometre circuit over the Alto del Piélago which is left in the final kilometres to finish in the centre of town. On paper it should be one for the break, but neither a GC ambush stage nor a (heavily) reduced bunch sprint can be ruled out here - indeed, an attempt at the former could lead to the latter.

Puerto del Piélago:

Final kilometres:

 

[roundabout]

Stage 18 - do the same climb twice
Stage 19 - do the same climb twice
Stage 20 - do the same climb twice

Seems like a lot effort went into designing week 3

 

[Escarabajo]

No one expects anything out of this stage. This one could be dangerous as well.

 

[Faserr]

We want chaos.

 

[yaco]

This could be a reduced bunch sprint - Expect, Trek to attack this stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Once again, the idea isn't bad the climb is just way too weak for it.

 

[KenFiamingo]

We've seen great short stages in the past, but i doubt 2 cat 2 climbs will deliver any spectacle. IMO the formula only works with "real" mountains or a very hilly course.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Why not try something different? I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Cookster15]

Anyone who isn't a pure sprinter should have no problems with that climb. Likely breakaway wins and nothing will happen for GC. Perhaps Movistar has the on-paper firepower to try something. That is the best we could hope for IMO, otherwise a Remco parade in red day.

 

[Red Rick]

Mads Pedersen?

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Yes. Ahead of Teunissen and Fred Wright.

 

[ice&fire]

Stage 18 - do the same climb twice
Stage 19 - do the same climb twice
Stage 20 - do the same climb twice

Seems like a lot effort went into designing week 3

To be fair, neither stage 18 nor stage 20 go twice over the same piece of road.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

That climb is sneaky hard - mainly due to the run-in to it. It will be decent climbers only in the break and very much a GC group at the finish

 

[red_flanders]

Some people are going to do some things on that first ascent.

 

[Tonton]

Stage 18 - do the same climb twice
Stage 19 - do the same climb twice
Stage 20 - do the same climb twice

Seems like a lot effort went into designing week 3

Yeah, there was a glitch when they designed the stages on cronoescalada...

 

[SHAD0W93]

Will the usual suspects be in the break and will Pinot or others try catching up to Carapaz in KoM.

Yes. Ahead of Teunissen and Fred Wright.

Nah Wright has been told to finish at the back of each group. He knows his place now.

 

[movingtarget]

Will the usual suspects be in the break and will Pinot or others try catching up to Carapaz in KoM.


Nah Wright has been told to finish at the back of each group. He knows his place now.

Some things are just meant to be............

 

[Tonton]

No Pogacar, no GC action of any kind.

At this point, Stage 20 is where the action will be...but I could see Almeida give it a shot at getting 1-2 minutes back tomorrow and other GC teams will have to decide if they let go or work and maybe not be as sharp on Saturday.

Interesting breakaway conundrum. Those who showed their faces today will rest tomorrow and wait for Saturday. To win from the break tomorrow you need to be a very good climber and a good reduced-bunch sprinter...Valverde? Contador did it...can he? I bet $1 on The Don.

 

[Sciatic]

No Pogacar, no GC action of any kind.

At this point, Stage 20 is where the action will be...but I could see Almeida give it a shot at getting 1-2 minutes back tomorrow and other GC teams will have to decide if they let go or work and maybe not be as sharp on Saturday.

Interesting breakaway conundrum. Those who showed their faces today will rest tomorrow and wait for Saturday. To win from the break tomorrow you need to be a very good climber and a good reduced-bunch sprinter...Valverde? Contador did it...can he? I bet $1 on The Don.

It may be that he will be more invested in looking out for Mas than seeking his own exploits. But it would be great to see him give it a go

 

[Tonton]

It may be that he will be more invested in looking out for Mas than seeking his own exploits. But it would be great to see him give it a go

The Don is the Don, and he wants his Contador ending.

 

[Nick2413]

Since there is little expectation for GC action I assume this stage will surprise us and end up being a key stage in the race.

 

[gregrowlerson]

The Don is the Don, and he wants his Contador ending.

Exactly. He is The Don. He is not Contador

 

[sir fly]

The Don is the Don, and he wants his Contador ending.

Nah... Froomey won't be awarded a special double trophy in Murcia this time around.

 

[hfer07]

breakaway FTW

Neither Mas nor MAL have the panache to launch an all out long range attack

 

[sir fly]

breakaway FTW

Neither Mas nor MAL have the panache to launch an all out long range attack

Had they been stronger they'd dare easier.