Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 18: Pola de Allande - La Cruz de Linares, 178.9k

[Devil's Elbow]

The final major mountain stage of the race. Can anybody keep up with the Kardashians Jumbots - literally or figuratively?

The start is in Pola de Allande, the westernmost point of this Vuelta. The first 30 kilometres are flattish, then we reach the long, irregular, but easier western side of Alto de las Estacas. This should be where the breakaway gets up the road.

Next up is the hardest climb of the day, the classic Puerto de San Lorenzo.

The remainder of the day consists of a lot of looping back on ourselves. First, there’s a loop over the short, but steep Alto de Tenebredo, and the uncategorised Alto de Santa Marina de Piedramuelle…

…before the decisive double ascent of Puerto de La Cruz de Linares.

 

[RedheadDane]

I suppose it's Kuss' turn to win the stage tomorrow.
Unless, of course, the fact that he was dropped today is an indicator that Roglic and Vingegaard are just stronger.
Or Jumbo decides to not be silly, and let the break have the stage.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

If they feel like being a team, then they should drag Kuss to the line. Keep him in red.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Or Jumbo decides to not be silly, and let the break have the stage.

Jumbo need to ride for the stage so Vingegaards attack can be viewed as an attack to win the stage, and not only an attack on his own team mate.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

If Jumbo are serious about their "best guy should win" approach then Vingegaard needs the take red tomorrow.
Because if he doesn't, then Kuss either stays in red until Madrid winning it as clearly their third best guy or gets it taken from him on stage 20 at the absolute last moment which would be horrible PR all around.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

Stage much harder to control, considering that it has more climb, is longer and a lot of good climber will go in the break

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Kuss still the leader after Angliru (which TBH I didn't expect). So what's next? The last MTF of the race tomorrow, the climb is difficult and steep (but gets easier in the second part) and the stage is difficult as well. Maybe the last chance for Vingo to pass Sepp. 8 seconds. A lot can happen...or not.

 

[RedheadDane]

Kuss still the leader after Angliru (which TBH I didn't expect).

People weren't expecting him to be the leader after the ITT.
People wren't expecting him to be the leader at any point.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

People weren't expecting him to be the leader after the ITT.
People wren't expecting him to be the leader at any point.

I actually expected him to hold some lead after the ITT but yeah, today was very good!

 

[JosefK]

Rogla gonna stomp (a little).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Hopefully they will just race. If they don't, there will at least be a good fight for 4-6th.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I suppose it's Kuss' turn to win the stage tomorrow.
Unless, of course, the fact that he was dropped today is an indicator that Roglic and Vingegaard are just stronger.
Or Jumbo decides to not be silly, and let the break have the stage.

They were stronger than Kuss but not by that much. I think Kuss can really do it (keep the lead) if they don't go absolutely nuts tomorrow. The critical stage was today.

 

[Red Rick]

The underrated stage of this Vuelta IMO.

Far more kms over 10% than any other

 

[Red Rick]

I do think Jumbo made their point today, I think they'll let the break do their thing today.

Wout Poels for the win

 

[Gigs_98]

Man if they take the jersey from Kuss on the final mountain stage...would be absolutely heartbraking. This really reminds me on Dumoulin still being in red going into stage 20 in 2015 but at least there it wasn't his own teammates who tried to take it away. After all the work Kuss has done for them I just hope they gift him what would be far and beyond the biggest triumph of his career.

 

[Gigs_98]

I do think Jumbo made their point today, I think they'll let the break do their thing today.

Wout Poels for the win

I think Poels will stay with Landa again who is now really close to fourth place. I would expect them to try playing tomorrow like they played today.

 

[dgodave]

Why am I not into looped/double climbs?

Perhaps I need to do some deep introspection and find out.

 

[Netserk]

Evenepoel to win the stage ahead of Soler and Poole. Bahrain will pace and drop Ayuso and Mas, so that Landa can take 4th. All three Jumbo captains will be passive spectators following Bahrain, no gaps between them.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Breakaway. Too much valley for long range GC action

 

[Red Rick]

Evenepoel to win the stage ahead of Soler and Poole. Bahrain will pace and drop Ayuso and Mas, so that Landa can take 4th. All three Jumbo captains will be passive spectators following Bahrain, no gaps between them.

Kuss: "I don't want to be gifted the Vuelta"

Roglic: "Shut the *** up Sepp"

Vingegaard: "You're the domestique Sepp, you don't get to decide"

 

[hfer07]

Vingegaard to invoke his 3rd week Thermonuclear powers in order to win the stage & destroy Roglic & Kuss while at it

 

[Escarabajo]

Remco to drop everyone in the last climb but Kuss. Kuss gives the stage to Remco and Remco the Vuelta title to Kuss!!!

Back in the peloton Vingegaard and Roglic fight for who is second best.

Everyone is even

 

[SHAD0W93]

The only thing I know is that Evenepoel will be in the break. Otherwise I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jumbo continue their 1-3 quest.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Remco to drop everyone in the last climb but Kuss. Kuss gives the stage to Remco and Remco the Vuelta title to Kuss!!!

Back in the peloton Vingegaard and Roglic fight for who is second best.

Everyone is even

How generous El Patron is!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Man if they take the jersey from Kuss on the final mountain stage...would be absolutely heartbraking. This really reminds me on Dumoulin still being in red going into stage 20 in 2015 but at least there it wasn't his own teammates who tried to take it away. After all the work Kuss has done for them I just hope they gift him what would be far and beyond the biggest triumph of his career.

Stage 20 is still pretty tough. Jumbo have more than enough control here, but I don't think they play "shepherd Sepp" until that stage, just because we have examples like Dumoulin and Yates in recent memory where the leader has capitulated. At least as far as Jumbo are concerned they are still the best placed ones to benefit, but "heartbreaking"? You'd really feel sorry for them if one of the three guys who've made a mockery of the race lost eight seconds?