La Vuelta a España - Stage 7 - Jódar to La Alpujarra *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Type: High Mountains
Distance: 191.9Km
Start/Finish: Jódar/La Alpujarra

Stage map:


Profile:


First Climb - Puerto de Blancares - Category 3:


Main Climb - Alto de Capileira. La Alpujarra - Category 1:



Last 5km::


The General Classification after Stage 6:


Preview (© cyclingnews.com):

A first opportunity for the pure climbers with a first high-altitude finish

There’s barely a metre of flat road on this stage, which concludes with the first high-altitude summit.

Once again, the finale is new to the race, although many of the riders will be familiar with the roads that run close to the Sierra Nevada resort, which hosts so many training camps. The finale on the Alto de Capileira lies on the southern flank of the Sierra Nevada.

Reached via the water-producing centre of Lanjarón and the town of Órgiva in the Alpujarra mountains, the road to it rises for almost 20km at an average gradient of five per cent. The second half of the climb is steeper than the first and will see the field whittled down until just the contenders for the red jersey are left.

LIVE TV:
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HIGHLIGHTS:
ITV4 - 7:00pm
TG4 - 9:00pm
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letape

Dani Moreno

Thanks for the preview Melodeon. Off work tomorrow so looking forward to watching this and hoping not to see a dominant Chris Froome win!

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

Today's the day we see Roche in red.

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Brian? wrote: »

Today's the day we see Roche in red.

I reckon he has a good shot at the stage, not sure he will crack Chaves sufficiently.

Tejay van Garderen

The climb suits Roche, plus with the form he has a the moment, its looking good for him to take the red jersey.

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

Pudsy33 wrote: »

I reckon he has a good shot at the stage, not sure he will crack Chaves sufficiently.

Chavez has looked very strong alright. But it's the first proper mountain top finish and we all know what Sky will do. Drive into the climb, set a blistering pace followed by an attack. It really depends on team order IMO. If Roche is nominated to go for it, which he should be, we could see a great performance.

I don't think Roche is the designated leader, Froome still is but he'll destroy Nico in the TT anyway so why not let him at it?

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Hadn't considered it that way, fair points!

happytramp

Brian? wrote: »

Today's the day we see Roche in red.

I would have thought Dan was the man for that today. 3sec ahead, no team obligations, seems in flying form at the moment.

Quintana to try something today. He'll need minutes on Froome ahead of the time trial.

dastardly00

Some more info on the final climb today. Paraphrased from cyclingnews.com

The first part of the 18.7 km climb is relatively gentle, with a gradient of around 5%. There is a brief segment of 8% immediately before a much easier section that winds its way around the mountainside and which will allow most of the riders in difficulty on the first section to return to the pack.

For around 5 km, during this break in the climbing, the peloton move along nearly-flat, well surfaced roads high above the valley floor, prior to taking a left turn onto a series of hairpin bends towards the main part of the ascent.

On this second rising segment, the road up is a steady haul rather than steep, mostly running at between 7-8%. What makes the climbing much harder are the constant switchbacks, the vertigo-inducing long drop on the right-hand side of the road above the valley, and, with little shelter, the exposure to what is forecast to be blazing sunshine on open, dusty, relentlessly climbing roads.

With a little under 2 km to go, a drop in gradient precedes a sudden, sharply rising ‘ramp’ of 14%. Although quite short, after such a long climb this will surely do some damage and could see final attacks go clear.

The final 500 metres will hold another surprise for the riders who have not seen videos of the climb; the road surface is perhaps best described as ‘semi-surfaced’, with some tarmac and some packed earth segments leading to the finishing gantry.

MrMischief

Joaquin Rodriguez

Really looking forward to this today as the race will be turned on its head - so many permutations.

Head is saying Quintana and Froome to fight it out the last 10km for stage win with Froome taking the stage and red. These two boys have been keeping their powder dry up until now. Nico will bury himself for Froomey up to the last 10km.

Heart is saying Dan to take red with Nico moving back onto the podium as he stays with the big boys to the finish. Dan needs to go early , 15km or so from finish to stand a chance.

dastardly00

Veloviewer profile of the Alto de Capileira:

brocbrocach

MrMischief wrote: »

Really looking forward to this today as the race will be turned on its head - so many permutations.

Head is saying Quintana and Froome to fight it out the last 10km for stage win with Froome taking the stage and red. These two boys have been keeping their powder dry up until now. Nico will bury himself for Froomey up to the last 10km.

Heart is saying Dan to take red with Nico moving back onto the podium as he stays with the big boys to the finish. Dan needs to go early , 15km or so from finish to stand a chance.

I'd say Chaves will hold on today but if it starts breaking up all Dan has to do is stick with Valverde and he's almost certain for red.

dastardly00

MrMischief wrote: »

Dan needs to go early , 15km or so from finish to stand a chance.

I think that would be a bad move in my opinion. All the big teams will still have the majority of their main climbing domestiques available. Sky, Movistar, and Astana will set a high tempo and would be able to catch Dan no problem.

I think Dan needs to hang on in there until closer to the finish and then attack, and hope that Froome, Valverde, Aru, Quintana etc. are having a Mexican stand-off. He might be able to nick the leader's jersey then.

QueensGael

Dani Moreno

I rode the section through Lanjaron, Orgiva, Pampinera and Capillera back in March, beautiful part of the world, the roads were pretty good too. Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out today, Dan FTW

stecleary

Esteban Chaves

dastardly00 wrote: »

I think that would be a bad move in my opinion. All the big teams will still have the majority of their main climbing domestiques available. Sky, Movistar, and Astana will set a high tempo and would be able to catch Dan no problem.

I think Dan needs to hang on in there until closer to the finish and then attack, and hope that Froome, Valverde, Aru, Quintana etc. are having a Mexican stand-off. He might be able to nick the leader's jersey then.

Completely agree dan likes a short punchy burst and can kick hard. 15 km would be way too long for him

eagle eye

If Quintana has learned anything from the Tour it's that you cannot just sit back early on, I'd expect to see him and his team making this extremely tough today.

at1withmyself

eagle eye wrote: »

If Quintana has learned anything from the Tour it's that you cannot just sit back early on, I'd expect to see him and his team making this extremely tough today.

Gap out to 12 minutes for the 5 breakaways so no one seems too bothered today to chase unless they're all holding back for the climb which will suit the guys in the breakaway...

REBELSAFC

Dave Brailsford (Team Sky manager) doesn't make too much a big deal out of this first mountain stage but says the summit finish at La Alpujarra is still important:

"We're not in the heart of the GC race yet but you can never underestimate an 18-km climb. It's an important test for the GC riders because it's a different kind of effort. Chris has been in good shape since the start of the Vuelta. We must now see how he feels on a long climb like this. Nicolas Roche has worked very well for us in the Tour and has also been doing an excellent first week in the Vuelta and he will be another one of our strengths in the mountain with Mikel Nieve. They can always be an option. We must play the numbers."



Brailsford bigging Nico up??????

MrMischief

Joaquin Rodriguez

Well we'll agree to disagree but maybe 15km is a bit of a stretch.

Reason I said it was that I expect Quintana to show his colours today and if this years TdF is anything to go by he will be attacking from 10/12km from the finish. Its the only way he will put time into Froome.

Dan went close this year on Stage 11 of TdF. He attacked and chased Majka with about 8km and ran out of road and was closing all the time so he certainly had it in him that day on a very hard day of cycling.

Dan always leaves it way too late and I'd like to see him try something else especially if Quintana decides to have a go.

But yes, he may just follow wheels and hope Chavez drops away. Still don't think Dan has shown enough to stay on the podium for the duration of GT's. He always seems to have a few really bad days (due to illness) and maybe he is just probe to that. Hope I'm wrong!

petethedrummer

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Brailsford bigging Nico up??????

More like explicitly stating his role today.

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

eagle eye wrote: »

If Quintana has learned anything from the Tour it's that you cannot just sit back early on, I'd expect to see him and his team making this extremely tough today.

Today's climb is nowhere near steep enough for Quintana. It's a long drag.

Beasty

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Dave Brailsford (Team Sky manager) doesn't make too much a big deal out of this first mountain stage but says the summit finish at La Alpujarra is still important:

If you are quoting from another site please state which site it is and provide a link (that applies equally to any other information posted from elsewhere). Site rules limit the amount of copyrighted material that can be quoted to a short paragraph in addition to the link

Any questions, PM me - do not respond in-thread

Thanks

dastardly00

Seemingly the road at the very top of the final climb has been resurfaced and is no longer a dirt track.

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/637270376721043456

Inquitus

Joaquin Rodriguez

Here we go!

Zzippy

Break 6 minutes up, is that enough? Would be plenty on flat road but not sure with the uphill finish...

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Zzippy wrote: »

Break 6 minutes up, is that enough? Would be plenty on flat road but not sure with the uphill finish...

50/50 I reckon

Inquitus

Joaquin Rodriguez

I'd agree its in the balance, depends how hard the GC battle rages behind and how early it starts.

mirrormatrix

They're done I think (though my Velogames team would profit from Txurruka making it!). Too many behind with the opportunity to take time.

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Dan and and Nico both looking strong at rhe head of the bunch. No idea if the break makes it or not

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

Pudsy33 wrote: »

50/50 I reckon

It's 99% they'll be caught now. Once the attacks come it'll be all over.

Sky are not doing what I expected at all.

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Dan and and Nico both looking strong at rhe head of the bunch. No idea if the break makes it or not

When Seán Kelly says it's going to be difficult for the breakaway to stay away that's the same as me saying they haven't a hope.

Trojan

How far to go?

Gallant_JJ

8km, break@3min exactly

pelevin

Funnily enough 5 minutes ago I put a couple of euros on Landa at 20/1 for the overall, & then Sean picks him out for the stage.

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Txurruka can still win this I reckon

at1withmyself

I hope they make it, gap is big enough!

Brian?

Tejay van Garderen

I take it back. They're staying away.

at1withmyself

Go on cousin!!

griffin100

Is Dan going to attack? Maybe with 500 to go!!

at1withmyself

Frome gone out the back

Darkglasses

Esteban Chaves

Lindemann wins the stage, everyone makes big gains on Froome. Aru first GC rider over the line

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

Dan tried but at least he didn't lose any time. Roche sky leader now?

Inquitus

Joaquin Rodriguez

Roche Sky leader then?

at1withmyself

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Dan tried but at least he didn't lose any time. Roche sky leader now?

Froome will be back I'd say, just one bad day I'd guess...

Solobally8

Excellent from Nico!

Darkglasses

Esteban Chaves

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Dan tried but at least he didn't lose any time. Roche sky leader now?

Looks pretty bad for Froomey at the very least, very early to show that kind of weakness.

Gallant_JJ

Excellent from Roche

spock.

Inquitus wrote:

Roche Sky leader then?

Hopefully. He's in top form.

kenmc

did Nico get in ahead of martin? I saw a banner with him listed as 10th, didn't see Martins name

Rambling Man

Joaquin Rodriguez

Yeah, minor setback for Froome. not enough to put Nico in the box seat.

Pudsy33

Tejay van Garderen

kenmc wrote: »

did Nico get in ahead of martin? I saw a banner with him listed as 10th, didn't see Martins name

Same group so Martin will get same time