September 8, Stage 18: Solares - Noja 169.7km

Inquitus

Big chance for a breakaway

If any one stage of this year’s Vuelta is almost guaranteed to offer a winning chance to a breakaway this is the one. The stage takes the most roundabout of routes, snaking for over 174km to cover the mere 30km between Solares and Noja, which both lie just to the east of Santander. There are five categorised climbs, the last two cat 3s that are still some distance out from the finish. If, or perhaps when, the breakaway goes, the bunch may decide to chase over the closing 30km into Noja but the likelihood is that it will be too far back to bother.

dastardly00

With less than 37km to go, a 17-man breakaway are leading the stage, with an advantage of over 10 minutes from the peloton. Rodriguez, LL Sanchez and Haussler are in the breakaway.

Roche and Wouter Poels decided to attack out of the peloton to make up some time in the GC, but because Poels is just outside the top 10, they were caught pretty quickly.

Daithi BC

Inquitus wrote: »

If any one stage of this year’s Vuelta is almost guaranteed to offer a winning chance to a breakaway this is the one.

You weren't wrong! 17 men 11 minutes up the road, none of them in any way threatening to GC.

dastardly00

If the gap were to stay around the 11 minute mark, then Rodriguez would probably leap ahead of Martin and Roche in the GC.

donfers

dastardly00 wrote: »

If the gap were to stay around the 11 minute mark, then Rodriguez would probably leap ahead of Martin and Roche in the GC.

as would kiserlovski

elduggo

thats my Ireland flag there on the left, just before the finish line. Must go see did I get on telly!

not sure I recommend attending these races. Its impossible to tell whats happening, though I'm sure it'd be grand if you spoke the language and could understand the commentator.