La Vuelta a España - Stage 5 - Rota/Alcalá de Guadaíra *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Type: Flat (with a sting in the tail)
Distance: 167.3km
Start/Finish: Rota/Alcalá de Guadaíra

Stage map:


Profile:


Last 5km:


Finale:


The General Classification after Stage 4:


Preview (© cyclingnews.com):

A pan-flat stage for the sprinters but the heat and wind may well play their part

On paper, this is the most straightforward stage of the race with barely a pimple hindering the riders’ progress as they head inland into the province of Sevilla.

However, the elements could make for an uncomfortable day. In this parched landscape, the heat is likely to be intense. The riders will also be watchful for echelons forming if the wind begins to gust. This threat is greatest in the first half of the stage, which runs near the sea, but remains in the open countryside of the latter half.

The finale is in the impressively imposing walled town of Alcalá de Guadáira, which is hosting its first finish. The sprinters should provide an equally impressive flourish.

LIVE TV:
Eurosport 2 - 2.45pm
TG4 - 3:00pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
ITV4 - 7:00pm
TG4 - 8:00pm
British Eurosport - 11:45pm

neris

heat could play a big part in this especially the closer they get to Seville. Forecast is saying 35 degrees and lightish breeze of 15km/h around that part at 5pm.

Morrisseeee

John Degenkolb

ABV FTW





/anything but Valverde for the win

REBELSAFC

Nacer Bouhanni

This stage will be a bit of a bore....At least there aren't too many of these stages in La Vuelta.I can see the peleton take it handy in the heat

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

It was a very similar finish last year when Dan Martin made a break for it in the last few hundred metres, only to be pipped by Matthews.

That's said, I reckon we will see a bunch kick and I'll be shocked if it ain't Sagan.

Decuc500

Jempy Drucker

Would love to see Caleb Ewan win this but I think it will be Sagan again.

lennymc

did the gc yesterday not show valverde above dan?

dastardly00

Danny van Poppel

lennymc wrote: »

did the gc yesterday not show valverde above dan?

It did initially. There was a 3 second gap between Purito (6th) and Julian Simon (7th) in yesterday's stage, and that moved Valverde ahead of Dan. But the commissionaires decided that the first 25 riders over the line all finished on the same time, so the results were changed.

dastardly00

Danny van Poppel

I would like to see Bouhanni not crash today, and win the stage. His ability to go uphill has been improving this year.

REBELSAFC

Nacer Bouhanni

REBELSAFC wrote: »

This stage will be a bit of a bore....At least there aren't too many of these stages in La Vuelta.I can see the peleton take it handy in the heat

1st hour
The leaders rode 37 km during the first hour.

With the peleton seven minutes I make that approx 33km/ph...They'd struggle on the Rebel Tour

gordongekko

lennymc wrote: »

did the gc yesterday not show valverde above dan?

.

https://twitter.com/ByTheMinCycle/status/636204102465253376

pelevin

dastardly00 wrote: »

It did initially. There was a 3 second gap between Purito (6th) and Julian Simon (7th) in yesterday's stage, and that moved Valverde ahead of Dan. But the commissionaires decided that the first 25 riders over the line all finished on the same time, so the results were changed.

Didn't see it myself & am wondering if there was a 3 second time-gap between 6th & 7th, why would they overlook that? Surely that's not something they have any meaningful right to ignore. In fact if it was the case, surely it's a farcical decision.

stecleary

John Degenkolb

pelevin wrote: »

Didn't see it myself & am wondering if there was a 3 second time-gap between 6th & 7th, why would they overlook that? Surely that's not something they have any meaningful right to ignore. In fact if it was the case, surely it's a farcical decision.

There was a crash inside 3km to go

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

gordongekko wrote: »

.

https://twitter.com/ByTheMinCycle/status/636204102465253376

That was changed though

pelevin

stecleary wrote: »

There was a crash inside 3km to go

I suppose they can't cover everything but it's a bit of an odd one in a way, on an uphill finish particularly. On a stage where climber types are to the fore at the finish, only to be expected there'll be time gaps. That rule seems far more appropriate on the flatter finishes - though maybe tis felt it'd be too chaotic otherwise?

stecleary

John Degenkolb

pelevin wrote: »

I suppose they can't cover everything but it's a bit of an odd one in a way, on an uphill finish particularly. On a stage where climber types are to the fore at the finish, only to be expected there'll be time gaps. That rule seems far more appropriate on the flatter finishes - though maybe tis felt it'd be too chaotic otherwise?

Possibly something to do with the fact the climb was only the last 4km. They bunch was all together until the crash too. A good few climbers got caught up in it.

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

stecleary wrote: »

Possibly something to do with the fact the climb was only the last 4km. They bunch was all together until the crash too. A good few climbers got caught up in it.

Was that the one Dan Martin was caught up in ?
Or did Dan crash ? Soem of those corners even frightened Sammy Sanchez it seems

stecleary

John Degenkolb

MPFGLB wrote: »

Was that the one Dan Martin was caught up in ?
Or did Dan crash ? Soem of those corners even frightened Sammy Sanchez it seems

In the last 25km dan had 2 wheel changes and then got caught up in the crash.

pelevin

Morrisseeee wrote: »

ABV FTW





/anything but Valverde for the win

Just looked at PP & put a couple of euros on Bouhanni at 5/1. Valverde 33/1. Odds stop at 400/1 and still no sign of the likes of Quintana & Froome getting a mention! That Valverde's some man.

gordongekko

Dumoulin will surely go for it.

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

I put 50c ew on Rojac as 150/1. He's 33s with PP. Hopefully VV lets him off the leash. He likes an uphill kick.

stecleary

John Degenkolb

So is there anything actually happening?

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

stecleary wrote: »

So is there anything actually happening?

Teams fighting for position, should be a decent last 10k

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

Giant , OGE & Saxo vying for space

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

Superstar in the making, holy ****

letape

Nacer Bouhanni

Caleb ewen from Delenklob and then Sagan. Dekenklob went too early.

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

Oh we get to see another smiley young OGE rider in interviews

OGE really know how to spot talent

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

Time gaps and changes on GC it seems

Eamonnator

John Degenkolb

Chaves has lost red jersey by one second

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

Dan and Nico 3rd and 4th heading into tomorrow, looks like a great chance for an Irish leaders jersey tomorrow. Tom Dum won't hold on.

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

he is a lovely little guy that Caleb isn't he

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

MPFGLB wrote: »

he is a lovely little guy that Caleb isn't he

Between himself and Chaves, they're a really likeable team.

pelevin

As a team they're more than sorted for the future with him for these sprints, Matthews in the hillier finishes, Chaves & particularly Adam Yates was it who was so impressive this season looking like he could turn into something very special. And if they've something to defend they can always use the old 'Park the bus' tactic to make things difficult.

dastardly00

Danny van Poppel

Chapeau to Dumoulin for managing to snatch the maillot rojo from Chaves.

Pudsy33

John Degenkolb

pelevin wrote: »

As a team they're more than sorted for the future with him for these sprints, Matthews in the hillier finishes, Chaves & particularly Adam Yates was it who was so impressive this season looking like he could turn into something very special. And if they've something to defend they can always use the old 'Park the bus' tactic to make things difficult.

Funnily enough, Simon is meant to be the more talented Yates Bro.

griffin100

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Dan and Nico 3rd and 4th heading into tomorrow, looks like a great chance for an Irish leaders jersey tomorrow. Tom Dum won't hold on.

Roche to go into red tomorrow, turn his back on Sky and use a cobbled together team of Froome haters to help him keep the jersey until the finish, with daddy acting as DS given his experience in this area

pelevin

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Funnily enough, Simon is meant to be the more talented Yates Bro.

Though it has to happen on the road! Of the two am I right that Adam's been the way more impressive this year?

dastardly00

Danny van Poppel

pelevin wrote: »

Though it has to happen on the road! Of the two am I right that Adam's been the way more impressive this year?

They've both had a pretty good 2015.
Adam is the only one to have won a race, and managed better performances in the TdF. But Simon has probably been more consistent throughout the entire year?

Here is a comparison between the two for 2015 (includes one-day races, stages, and final GC positions).

Adam (left) v Simon (right)

pelevin

I'm still not sure if I've been mixing the 2 of them up, & I think I actually have. From the look of that it's Simon who had a particularly great Dauphine, which is what stood out for me, & I was thinking was Adam. But then Adam won San Sebastian so the 2 of them are doing more than all right.

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

It seems when one Adams twin is going well the other isn't and visa versa...


I like this Oroca BSP...the bit about : Froomey (though may need to watch the stage 2 one first to see the reference- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3wvqi9DksY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FKY-E-aws

Quite different to when they engaged Contador in the Giro

pelevin

MPFGLB wrote: »

It seems when one Adams twin is going well the other isn't and visa versa...


I like this Oroca BSP...the bit about : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3wvqi9DksYFroomey (though may need to watch the stage 2 one first to see the reference- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3wvqi9DksY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FKY-E-aws

Quite different to when they engaged Contador in the Giro

Thanks, will give them a look hopefully tomorrow. Problem with my pc here is I'm a techno-moron & the internet keeps cutting out, & is guaranteed to do so when trying to watch Youtube.

Have to add though - it mightn't be politically correct to say it & I might get in trouble here but the problem with the Yates brothers is they all look the same.

pelevin

MPFGLB wrote: »

It seems when one Adams twin is going well the other isn't and visa versa...


I like this Oroca BSP...the bit about : Froomey (though may need to watch the stage 2 one first to see the reference- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3wvqi9DksY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FKY-E-aws

Quite different to when they engaged Contador in the Giro

The ribbing Stephens got from the other guy was class! Was wondering what he was doing telling that to Froome all right.

MPFGLB

Danny van Poppel

pelevin wrote: »

The ribbing Stephens got from the other guy was class! Was wondering what he was doing telling that to Froome all right.

I know .I thought it was very funny...there was no story whatsoever

He tried to engage with Contador in the Giro the same way but Contador stayed around for awhile longer....Froome was gone in a second