Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024 rumors

[ice&fire]

Leitariegos is a nothingburger sandwiched between Ancares and Cuitu Negru. I don't think we get a better race making it harder.

 

[Netserk]

Similarly, Acebo before Leitariegos would have really added to that stage.

La Manzaneda will probably be a big nothing as a Unipuerto on a tempo climb the day before Ancares. It would have heavy Montevergine vibes in week 1 but might be interesting after stage 12. I'm coming in with low expectations, but it was the climb that cost Chris Froome the 2011 Vuelta, albeit only for eight years before he got gifted it back and because his team didn't trust what they were seeing from him so put him to work domestiquing for Wiggins despite wearing the leader's jersey.

It's not the same side as in 2011 (and also not the same length).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's not the same side as in 2011 (and also not the same length).

Which is better, but given the fear that a steep one like Ancares will engender, none of the sides are likely to be super decisive. I'd rather the finishes be the other way round but that would probably mean they'd have to start the Manzaneda stage somewhere else and use climbs like A Moa beforehand. Bibei might be the best version from a racing standpoint (Twitter demands notwithstanding) but it's still likely to suit tempo climbing in a Unipuerto stage.

 

[Netserk]

I'd rather the finishes be the other way round but that would probably mean they'd have to start the Manzaneda stage somewhere else and use climbs like A Moa beforehand.

Why? It's a minor change to go the other way to the top.

EDIT: Rather, if A Pobra de Trives pays, then both side and length of ascent makes sense.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Not sure why anyone would complain about ITTs. Bookended so they don't interfere with the real racing and reduce the ceremonial stages by excluding a Madrid sprint.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Why? It's a minor change to go the other way to the top.

EDIT: Rather, if A Pobra de Trives pays, then both side and length of ascent makes sense.

More just that you don't really want the second mountain stage in the sequence to be the Unipuerto one.

 

[ice&fire]

Manzaneda before Ancares, Leitariegos before Cuitu Negru and Moncalvillo before Picón Blanco are three stages where mountains are there just to avoid Unipublic's allergy to flat stages. You may improve those stages by adding more climbing, but that won't improve the overall route pacing.

 

[gavia88]

my cents on some route improvements:


1 Lissabon – Oeiras ❌
ok, seems weird but I would start with a TTT as in the last 15 years is quite a tradition. An extra ITT I will add later in the route and TTT is good for having variation in stage types
2 Cascais – Ourém ✔️
nothing special, but sprinters will have to fight at least for the win, so nothing to add or change.
3 Lousã – Castello Branco ✔️
same as for stage 2
4 Plasencia – Pico Pitolero ✔️
not a big fan of the stage, but for stage for it's more good enough
5 Fuente del Maestre – Sevilla ✔️
The only real flat stage so nothing to bad to have one stage like this. So, no changes.
6 Jerez de la Frontera – Yunquera ✔️
7 Archidona – Córdoba ✔️
8 Úbeda – Cazorla ❌
I would love if they add some gravel here, like in in the clásica jaén paraíso interior, they are crossing the same province, so this would have been the perfect spot in the race.
9 Motril – Granada ✔️
one of the best designed stage in Vuelta history, so nothing to chance
10 Pontearas – Baiona ✔️
nice medium mountain stage, so nothing to change.
11 Padrón – Padrón ❌
Really nice medium mountain stage, but 1 little change would make it much more GC relevant, adding the steep cruz das cabanelas before the final climb.

12 Ourense – Cabeza de Manzaneda ❌
Pointless mountain finish. Excellent place for the first ITT in the race. About 25 km. Ourense - Ourense.
13 Lugo – Puerto de Ancaras ❌
The Ancares could be the Spanish Mortirolo, I know the dificulties with payments and finish location per province, but this suggested stage by Lasterbeta Burua would be much better

14 Villafranca del Bierzo – Villablino ❌
a bit of a pointles stage. Just make it a flat sprint stage.
15 Infiesto – Cuitu Negru ❌
What I don't like about stage 15 and 16, the 2 Asturian stages of this years Vuelta is that they both are very hard, but only interesting at the end of the stage. I would make stage 15 easier and skipp the double climb of the Colladiella, just doing it 1 time and then the battle on the Cuitu Negro
16 Luanco – Lagos de Covadonga ❌
The Covadonga is not the best choice after Cuitu Negru as it's another waiting game. I would have like some an asturian stage with a combo of different 1/2nd category climbs, somthing in this direction

17 Arnuero – Santander ❌
easier to make it sprinters prove and use Estranguada in the Picon Blanco stage
18 Vitoria-Gasteiz – Maeztu ✔️
19 Logrono – Alto de Moncalvillo ✔️
20 Villarcayo – Picón Blanco ✔️❌
I actually like the stage. So, it should not necessarily a change. But the Tornos is the weakest option to link to the Picon Blancon. So, I would have like something like this (suggestion from a user on apmforo) more, with Estranguada -Lunada-Picon blanco as final climbs more

21 Madrid – Madrid ✔️
Back to a 90/00 tradition and have a time trial in Madrid is ok


I think those changes:
-will make the route having more variation (TTT, gravel)
-more balanced ITT
-removing some unnecessary mountain finishes that are not to relevant
-improves some GC relevant moments and attacks from far out
-pacing of the race was already quite good, but this way even a bit beter

 

[ice&fire]

13 Lugo – Puerto de Ancaras ❌
The Ancares could be the Spanish Mortirolo, I know the dificulties with payments and finish location per province, but this suggested stage by Lasterbeta Burua would be much better

I love the so-called experts who propose a stage that starts in Asturias, crosses León and has the last 40kms in Lugo as an alternative for a stage that starts in Lugo and finishes in León.

 

[Netserk]

With Lunada before Picón Blanco, I'd rather use Alto de los Machucos as the third last climb.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

With Lunada before Picón Blanco, I'd rather use Alto de los Machucos as the third last climb.

Zero chance of ever seeing Machucos in its current state as a pass given the steepness, narrowness and twistiness of the hormigón sections. Only way to make it work would probably be to construct a bypass road around the bottom 300-ish metres of the easy side which seems like wishful thinking.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Looked a bit closer and this is going to be a proper GT. Very hard third week and what i assume will be an epic stage 15.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I love the so-called experts who propose a stage that starts in Asturias, crosses León and has the last 40kms in Lugo as an alternative for a stage that starts in Lugo and finishes in León.

Same source:

 

[ice&fire]

Same source:

That route only has 5 km in León in the descent between Cruz de Cespedosa and Piornedo. Good option for a stage fully paid by Galicia, but that is not what we'll get in 2024, which is a stage with its last 90km in León.

 

[OlavEH]

I am considering combining a visit to the Vuelta at the Lagos de Covandoga stage with a hiking trip in the Picos de Europa. In that regard I have a question. I will probably be staying before and after in Oviedo or Cangas de Onis. I understand there are buses from the latter to Covadonga on "normal" days. Will there also be this on the day of the Vuelta stage so I don't need to walk all the way from Cangas de Onis?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I am considering combining a visit to the Vuelta at the Lagos de Covandoga stage with a hiking trip in the Picos de Europa. In that regard I have a question. I will probably be staying before and after in Oviedo or Cangas de Onis. I understand there are buses from the latter to Covadonga on "normal" days. Will there also be this on the day of the Vuelta stage so I don't need to walk all the way from Cangas de Onis?

You should be able to get buses at least to the Basilica from either Arriondas or Cangas de Onis at least until a couple of hours before the earliest scheduled arrival. Buses run from Oviedo to Arriondas regularly, plenty also go to Cangas but there are some lines that diverge at Arriondas (the Llanes lines and routes that cross over into Cantabria to go to Torrelavega and onward) so keep an eye on your options. Just be aware that in many cases the buses will take longer than their regular scheduled timetable because they will have to deal with vastly increased pedestrian and cycle traffic from people heading to see the race.

There are shuttle buses through July-August-September that go from the Basilica to the lakes, those are likely not going to run on the day of the stage or at least will stop running some time before the race is scheduled to pass through, but you should have no trouble getting to the Sanctuary because that's a big tourist attraction in the area that will attract attendance entirely independent of cycling on the day.

 

[Netserk]

Zero chance of ever seeing Machucos in its current state as a pass given the steepness, narrowness and twistiness of the hormigón sections. Only way to make it work would probably be to construct a bypass road around the bottom 300-ish metres of the easy side which seems like wishful thinking.

Seems comparable to the descent from La Asturiana in Itzulia last year.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Seems comparable to the descent from La Asturiana in Itzulia last year.

The Asturiana hormigón section is shorter, wider, has more forgiving turns and is about half as steep.

 

[OlavEH]

You should be able to get buses at least to the Basilica from either Arriondas or Cangas de Onis at least until a couple of hours before the earliest scheduled arrival. Buses run from Oviedo to Arriondas regularly, plenty also go to Cangas but there are some lines that diverge at Arriondas (the Llanes lines and routes that cross over into Cantabria to go to Torrelavega and onward) so keep an eye on your options. Just be aware that in many cases the buses will take longer than their regular scheduled timetable because they will have to deal with vastly increased pedestrian and cycle traffic from people heading to see the race.

There are shuttle buses through July-August-September that go from the Basilica to the lakes, those are likely not going to run on the day of the stage or at least will stop running some time before the race is scheduled to pass through, but you should have no trouble getting to the Sanctuary because that's a big tourist attraction in the area that will attract attendance entirely independent of cycling on the day.

Thanks. It seems that getting as far as the Basilica would be about halfway to the lakes? That would save some time and be acceptable. Then I'll walk up and find a place just before the last descent to the lakes and continue afterwards to the first rifugio on the hiking trip.

 

[Breezy1985]

Having just found out that my holiday coincides with the final stage of the Vuelta in Madrid I am wondering if
a) It is likely to be an evening TT as I only arrive in Atocha at 5pm ?
b) Does the Vuelta do fan zones like the Tour and WC ?
Thanks in advance.

 

[ice&fire]

Having just found out that my holiday coincides with the final stage of the Vuelta in Madrid I am wondering if
a) It is likely to be an evening TT as I only arrive in Atocha at 5pm ?
b) Does the Vuelta do fan zones like the Tour and WC ?
Thanks in advance.

Late start has been a common thing for the last Vuelta stage in recent years. The time table is not yet published, but an evening ITT is very likely.
The ITT course goes past the North side of the Atocha station, so you may find the first riders are already on if you come out to the street, although moving through the crowd with your luggage may not be the best idea.
I have no idea if they have anything like fan zones. I haven't been to a Vuelta final stage since Nibali won in 2010. I recall I was at a place 100m before the finish line where they had a large screen to follow the TV broadcast. The screen was rather facing the VIP zone stands around the finish line, so I don't know if that counts as a fan zone and I don't know if they have more screens along the circuit.
If you plan to use the underground public transport, be aware that when there are mass events on the street they use to close the stations just under the crowded areas, so you have to plan your trip to a nearby station and take a 5-10 minutes walk to the hot spot.

 

[Breezy1985]

Late start has been a common thing for the last Vuelta stage in recent years. The time table is not yet published, but an evening ITT is very likely.
The ITT course goes past the North side of the Atocha station, so you may find the first riders are already on if you come out to the street, although moving through the crowd with your luggage may not be the best idea.
I have no idea if they have anything like fan zones. I haven't been to a Vuelta final stage since Nibali won in 2010. I recall I was at a place 100m before the finish line where they had a large screen to follow the TV broadcast. The screen was rather facing the VIP zone stands around the finish line, so I don't know if that counts as a fan zone and I don't know if they have more screens along the circuit.
If you plan to use the underground public transport, be aware that when there are mass events on the street they use to close the stations just under the crowded areas, so you have to plan your trip to a nearby station and take a 5-10 minutes walk to the hot spot.

Thanks for the info. I travel light and am used to crowds and travel restrictions from my time in London so mostly just worried about missing all the fun

 

[scribers]

who rides the Vuelta this year? Who are the big guns? Pogi says he 99% not riding this year's vuelta, presumably to focus on Worlds.

Roglic seems like a good choice, though he might think about Worlds too. Remco? Vingo is on child rearing leave apparently.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Reading in between the lines, likely big four to participate and breakaway having little chance in succeeding.

• Rogla, currently injured and 99% not to go.
• Pogi, currently not tired and 99% not to go.
• Jonas, currently tired and 99% not to go.
• Remco, currently happy and 99% no to go.

P.S. Breakaway, having 1% chance of winning a stage, hence 99% to go.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Javier Guillén confirma que Roglic, Landa y Kuus estarán...

El director de la ronda española ha presentado esta mañana en Vitoria la 18º etapa de La Vuelta 2024, que discurrirá íntegramente por la provincia de Álava.

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