Vuelta a Espana, Stage 8: Talavera de la Reina - San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 183km

[jobiwan]

Following completion of the first week of competition, the race features two mountain stages before the time trial. To start, the last Saturday in August, an explosive stage with four categorised climbs. Puerto de Mijares (first), Collado Mediano and Hoyo de Guija (second) and San Lorenzo de El Escorial (third) complicate the stage before reaching the Madrid suburb of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Although La Vuelta has often passed through the town, this will be the time first that their streets will host the finish line.

The finish in San Lorenzo, with ramps of 27 and 28%, WILL mark some differences in the pack if they have not completed the previous climbs. (From La Vuelta)

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

really awesome last km. must be close to 20% average.

Can't think past Purito.

 

[Tuarts]

Pureno will be all over this one.

 

[Jamsque]

Hard to see past J-Rod for this one, yeah. The less explosive GC guys will lose more time.

 

[Ferminal]

Yes! Could be an epic stage, uncategorised bonus climbs ftw.

 

[just some guy]

Yes! Could be an epic stage, uncategorised bonus climbs ftw.

quoted just because

 

[Ferminal]

Reasonably certain that this is the finale:




(Click to enlarge)

 

[Swede1]

Maybe to avoid a sprint up the last kilometer, the less explosive GC riders will try to attack on one of the earlier hills to get a gap, and then avoid a loss of time.

 

[Fetisoff]

@Ferminal - I'm not sure sure. On the official profile of the last 3 km, it looks like the climb starts at roughly 930 m altitude, ends at 1125, so 200 m over 1 km climb

 

[Fetisoff]

Oh yeah, Purito needs to win, and get about 10 seconds on Nibali here to keep his GC hope alive

 

[Ferminal]

@Ferminal - I'm not sure sure. On the official profile of the last 3 km, it looks like the climb starts at roughly 930 m altitude, ends at 1125, so 200 m over 1 km climb

The height data in the official last km profiles are unreliable. I went off the time schedule which listed the roads and turns, I think I got them correct.

The height data from the time schedule says 1011m with 1.11km remaining and 1125m at the finish.

 

[icefire]

The height data in the official last km profiles are unreliable. I went off the time schedule which listed the roads and turns, I think I got them correct.

The height data from the time schedule says 1011m with 1.11km remaining and 1125m at the finish.

I had a look last night at the last 3kms on google maps. Climbing starts at the underground pass next to El Escorial railway station with 2kms to go.

 

[Lanark]

Your profile would suggest a 10% average for the last km. That makes a lot more sense than a 20% average.

 

[royalpig180]

Once again, I can't see anyone other than Purito taking this one. Maybe Poels could finish off what he tried to do at Valapedas de Jaen but let's be realistic. No one was even close to Purito on that finish.

 

[icefire]

Your profile would suggest a 10% average for the last km. That makes a lot more sense than a 20% average.

They climb 100m from the last turn with 700m to the finish line

 

[khardung la]

Check this

At about 800 m to go there are short ramps of about 23-26%, it is not a joke finish

EDIT: The last km may have about 11-13 % of average

 

[Parrulo]

from the profile this stage looks like a perfect introduction to the mountains.

 

[Descender]

This is the best designed stage of this year´s Vuelta. Explosive guys can wait till the end while non-explosive riders can attack on the previous climbs with a good chance of holding any lead they get until the foot of the last climb.

That being said, it would have been even better if they rode down and finished at the palace. Imagine JRod gaining some 15 seconds on the climb and Nibali chasing him on the descent... Mur finishes are nice, but we already had one this year, why not have a Mur-descent finish for a change (are you listening Fleche Wallonne?)?

 

[LabMonkey]

Any chance of Chavanel holding onto red tomorrow? I am not sure... how much time may he lose on such a finish?

 

[Parrulo]

Any chance of Chavanel holding onto red tomorrow? I am not sure... how much time may he lose on such a finish?

i don't think he has any chance tbh. the stage may only have 2 mountains but it has a lot of tough hills that will very likely be ridden very hard.

 

[LaFleur]

Any chance of Chavanel holding onto red tomorrow? I am not sure... how much time may he lose on such a finish?

Well, it's pretty sure that Rodriguez will win and get 20 secs as a bonus for that, that means he would only need 3 secs more to take the red. So it's pretty pretty sure that he Chavanel will lose it.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Any chance of Chavanel holding onto red tomorrow? I am not sure... how much time may he lose on such a finish?

About as much chance as a blindfolded donkey climbing Mt Everest

 

[maltiv]

There's something very strange about that last categorised climb. On the profile it seems like they briefly will have to ride up-side-down. Now that's a steep hill.

 

[icefire]

This is the best designed stage of this year´s Vuelta. Explosive guys can wait till the end while non-explosive riders can attack on the previous climbs with a good chance of holding any lead they get until the foot of the last climb.

That being said, it would have been even better if they rode down and finished at the palace. Imagine JRod gaining some 15 seconds on the climb and Nibali chasing him on the descent... Mur finishes are nice, but we already had one this year, why not have a Mur-descent finish for a change (are you listening Fleche Wallonne?)?

Well, there is a technical descent from 10kms to the finish line. Imagine Nibali flying away there and JRod chasing on the way up.

 

[jens_attacks]

1.purito
2.moreno