La Vuelta a España, September 6, Stage 15: Comillas to Sotres, 175km *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Date: Sunday 6th September
Type: High Mountains
Distance: 178Km
Start/Finish: Comillas/Sotres


Stage map:



Profile:



First Climb - Km 115.1 - Alto del Torno - Category 2:



Final Climb - Km 175.8 - Alto de Sotres - Category 1:




Last 5km:



The General Classification after Stage 14:



Preview (© cyclingnews.com):

A second consecutive summit finish with devilishly steep gradients towards the top

Head in any direction in Asturias and you’ll find a little known but fearsome ascent that’s waiting to have its reputation sealed by the Vuelta’s passing.

On this occasion, it’s the Jitu de Escarandi, which rises from the town of Cabrales up to and beyond Sotres. Although not especially high, it’s tough enough to rattle anyone’s composure this far into a grand tour and beautiful enough to make a lasting impression on spectators.

Its gradient of eight per cent over 13km doesn’t appear obscenely difficult but it almost flattens out for a kilometre between some steep ramps on the first half and some super steep ones in the second, particularly above Sotres. It could produce quite a shake-up.

LIVE TV:
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HIGHLIGHTS:
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Andre 3000

Quintana has to go for it here.

death1234567

The end of tom's challenge today. He'll lose over a minute.

Quintana to win.

MPFGLB

Another day for the breakaway for me as teams not strong enough or willing to to chase down ..Astana have only 7 riders and Aru did not look top yesterday (though he could be alot better today) and I wonder will they bother ...Also other teams like Movistar will keep reserves till end for Quintana long attack. Giant & OGE need to protect their men and haven't the riders ot chase breaks same with Ag2R. TinKoff will also not chase ..(btw McCarthy was pretty strong yesterday)

SKY will be in breakaway again today and it could be Nico if his legs & head are back. (I think its his head that is really the issue now). He is strong enough to get in the break and win on a climb like this but does he believe he can ??

MPFGLB

I think Dumoulin will last today but tomorrow will be the changer

Pozzovivo is also coming back up the charts . Chaves looks so wrecked on the OGE Back stage pass

Inquitus

death1234567 wrote: »

The end of tom's challenge today. He'll lose over a minute.

Quintana to win.

He can beat Aru by maybe as much as 3 minutes in the TT, so a minute isn't the end by any means.

MPFGLB

Movistar controlled all breaks and not letting SKY go ...they must want the Team prize as well. SKY wanting the team prize may stop their chances in breaks....swings & roundabouts

But break does include Pierre Rollnad & Hamair Zubeldia ....should be interesting

MPFGLB

Love the area the Vuelta finishes in today ...Picos de Europa National Park
Beautiful..... one of my favourites after the Dolomites

Trojan

The stage map always looks way more complex than the TDF ones.

Really looking forward to the last 10 or 15k today.

retalivity

jaysus...quintana just stopped

retalivity

rodriguez into red?? - missed it by a second

fantastic by dumoulin...

Andre 3000

It'd be incredible if Purito finally gets his GT win here. Would be delighted for him.

death1234567

Great stuff from Doumoulin. If he can survive tomorrow he'll have a huge chance. I think JRod is the worst time 'trial-er' of all the top GC men so he won't win this Vuelta.

EDIT: Just looking at the profile for tomorrow's stage and I think Doumoulin will suffer. He might get dropped on the second last climb of the day and if he does he'll ship alot of time.

Daroxtar

MPFGLB wrote: »

Love the area the Vuelta finishes in today ...Picos de Europa National Park
Beautiful..... one of my favourites after the Dolomites

Had a week there in July. Incredible scenery. I've almost convinced the OH of the need to return.
Great win for Purito. It's his to lose now IMHO. Another good performance tomorrow and stage 20 putting some more time into Tom and Aru. Quintana looks done.

MPFGLB

Daroxtar wrote: »

Had a week there in July. Incredible scenery. I've almost convinced the OH of the need to return.
Great win for Purito. It's his to lose now IMHO. Another good performance tomorrow and stage 20 putting some more time into Tom and Aru. Quintana looks done.

I think its the best chance for Purito alright. No Froome or Nibali & Quintana not in top form & Valverde not great at the mo either

Needs to put loads of time into Dumoulin tomorrow which I think will happen and also get seconds on Aru and stay ahead of him on TT

But I think it will all be decided on the last stage next saturday

Daroxtar

MPFGLB wrote: »

I think its the best chance for Purito alright. No Froome or Nibali & Quintana not in top form & Valverde not great at the mo either

Needs to put loads of time into Dumoulin tomorrow which I think will happen and also get seconds on Aru and stay ahead of him on TT

But I think it will all be decided on the last stage next saturday

Ya, everyone was focused on stage 11 but tomorrow's and Saturdays are monsters too. I just hope for Rodriguez sake he doesn't get attacked on the second last climb on Saturday again

Lusk_Doyle

death1234567 wrote: »

The end of tom's challenge today. He'll lose over a minute.

Quintana to win.

Wrong and wrong! Fair play Tom!

Lusk_Doyle

death1234567 wrote: »

Great stuff from Doumoulin. If he can survive tomorrow he'll have a huge chance. I think JRod is the worst time 'trial-er' of all the top GC men so he won't win this Vuelta.

EDIT: Just looking at the profile for tomorrow's stage and I think Doumoulin will suffer. He might get dropped on the second last climb of the day and if he does he'll ship alot of time.

I think that if he takes heart from his save today then his mental strength might save him tomorrow in the knowledge of his superiority in the TT.

Lusk_Doyle

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I think that if he takes heart from his save today then his mental strength might save him tomorrow in the knowledge of his superiority in the TT.

God I'm on fire lately with my predictions!