Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2024, stage 9: Motril - Granada, 179.2k

[Devil's Elbow]

Time for possibly the most hotly anticipated GT stage of the year. Can anyone really take the race to our new KOM jersey?

The first 50 kilometres rise in steps from the coast, perfect terrain for a hard breakaway formation. The first of these steps is the Alto de la Presa de Rules.

Next up is Alto de Lanjarón.

The final step is Alto de Talará, the first 6.9k of the profile below.

After the only flat of any real distance, it's time for the hard parts of the stage. First up is Alto del Purche.

The descent is mostly the same for all three big ascents, essentially a highway. Alto de Hazallanas is the same climb both times, 7.2k at 9.7% but preceded by an easy climb and that critical little descent into the start of the steep stuff. Hence why I've gone for the profile showing said run-in too.

The road flattens out in the final kilometres towards Granada, a HTF at the Alhambra would have been cool but ultimately it doesn't make much of a difference. This is a day to really press home your climbing advantage - Bora will unquestionably look to eliminate most of O'Connors lead, but the real question is whether anyone (looking at you, Enric Mas) will try to do the same to Roglic himself. In any case, this should be an exciting one.

 

[Red Rick]

Kinda scared about this descent finish because it is so goddamn fast.

@Devil's Elbow did you want the 2nd post for the image limit cause then I'll just delete my post

 

[ice&fire]

Kinda scared about this descent finish because it is so goddamn fast.

Will they switch to heavier bikes the last time around?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Kinda scared about this descent finish because it is so goddamn fast.

@Devil's Elbow did you want the 2nd post for the image limit cause then I'll just delete my post

No, I hit post by accident because I'm on my phone.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Considering how much time was lost for really strong riders today, I expect a bomb to get dropped tomorrow starting at the 1st ascent of Hazallanas with riders everywhere.The only negative about this stage is the fact that it wont be broadcasted in full - about the only thing that the Giro has over the Vuelta at this point in time. But we should catch the start of Monachil

 

[Samamba]

Gaps will be minutes if Bora goes on 2nd climb already.

Woudln't be surprised if there's chaos from the starts already with teams trying to get satelite riders in the break. Start phase actually is pretty hard with some shallow uncategorised climbs.

Well or Movistar, cause Mas is looking good and he needs to use these kind of stages.

 

[Red Rick]

Will they switch to heavier bikes the last time around?

My secret tungsten bottle strategy remains yet untested

 

[Samamba]

Will also be the last stage in the heat. 37 degrees tomorrow. From next week onwards they'll be in the north and it will be normal temperatures (around 25)

 

[Valv.Piti]

Will also be the last stage in the heat. 37 degrees tomorrow. From next week onwards they'll be in the north and it will be normal temperatures (around 25)

This stage in 37 degrees after the first 8 days in similar heat is torture. My god, you won't recognize the GC after the stage.

 

[Samamba]

This stage in 37 degrees after the first 8 days in similar heat is torture. My god, you won't recognize the GC after the stage.

Yeah it will be insane. A bit too much even I would say given a lot of riders will have throuble getting enough water from the car. There's not time to get some, cars probably won't even be close to you most of the time.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah it will be insane. A bit too much even I would say given a lot of riders will have throuble getting enough water from the car. There's not time to get some, cars probably won't even be close to you most of the time.

That will be a big problem especially if some team explodes the race on the penultimate climb, after which riders will be spread out over the course and difficult to get food and drink to all of them (though obviously team leaders will get their support).

 

[topcat]

We should have a poll on how many minutes O'Connor will lose. I don't think he'll lose the red jersey tomorrow but his maiden vuelta victory will be in serious doubt. The Landa show starts tomorrow.

 

[zlev11]

Roglic back in red

 

[Mako]

We should have a poll on how many minutes O'Connor will lose. I don't think he'll lose the red jersey tomorrow but his maiden vuelta victory will be in serious doubt. The Landa show starts tomorrow.

Yes, let's have that poll. I don't se Benno Koner in red anymore after tomorrow's stage. Gall would be more likely right now.

 

[topcat]

Has Mas ever attacked in his career? He'll have to attack if he wants to win the vuelta and tomorrow should be the day but you know he's just going to follow wonder boy.

 

[Miha81]

I just hope for another exiting stage. There were two quite one sided GT's this year so I am in for some general carnage

 

[SHAD0W93]

I hope the stage lives up to the hype. O’Connor will most likely crack from the heat again and Mas/Landa have to try and distance Roglic. If not Roglic most likely gets another win in the sprint.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Has Mas ever attacked in his career? He'll have to attack if he wants to win the vuelta and tomorrow should be the day but you know he's just going to follow wonder boy.

If you look at the previous times he was in second - in 2018 it was a huge breakthrough for him, in 2021 and 2022 he was a bit weaker than the winner. This time, he has looked every bit as strong as Roglic so far and he's also at the point where another second place doesn't matter. So as much as he isn't known for his aggression, taking risks has also never made as much sense for him as it does now.

Or am I coping?

 

[search]

For an attack to really make sense, I'd think Mas would need team support on the (final) descent. He has improved the past years, but that fast kind of finish is still far from ideal for him.

And I honestly struggle to see how Rubio or Quintana can be much help in that regard tomorrow.

 

[Red Rick]

If you look at the previous times he was in second - in 2018 it was a huge breakthrough for him, in 2021 and 2022 he was a bit weaker than the winner. This time, he has looked every bit as strong as Roglic so far and he's also at the point where another second place doesn't matter. So as much as he isn't known for his aggression, taking risks has also never made as much sense for him as it does now.

Or am I coping?

I think when the other guy does 80% of the work on a climb that isn't too steep and then still easily outsprints you after you've driven him into the barriers twice then you're probably not every bit as strong.

I think Mas just has that style where he gets credit for looking good when he's not dropping.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I think when the other guy does 80% of the work on a climb that isn't too steep and then still easily outsprints you after you've driven him into the barriers twice then you're probably not every bit as strong.

Mas would lose a sprint to Roglic even if Roglic was on a tricycle, so Roglic winning the sprint between them on a stage that objectively suits him better than Mas doesn't really tell me anything I didn't know yet.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Sivakov has claimed it is a personal issue with Vlasov being played out on the road.

Didn't elaborate but perhaps something Russia-related?

Hazallanas record 23:15;

 

[Mako]

Sivakov has claimed it is a personal issue with Vlasov being played out on the road.

Didn't elaborate but perhaps something Russia-related?

What are you refering to? When Vlasov reeled him in yesterday and set the stage up for WvA?

 

[ashhutch1997]

Vino 2006 nostalgia kicking in here..

 

[Peyroteo94]

I want to say one thing. I love Giro d'italia, it is probably my favourite race in the world and those climbs full of snow and those green landscapes are so beautiful in the spring but I think Giro and Vuelta should be swaped in the calendar. These 40° stages are so difficult and demanding, almost unfair to human body. Vuelta doesn't have those high altitude stages like the Giro so the risk of a stage being cancelled is lower in the Vuelta. And Italy doesn't have this horrific hot weather in the summer that we always have in Spain (specially Andaluzia).
What do you guys think about this?