La Vuelta a España, September 10, Stage 18: Roa de Duero - Riaza 204km *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Date: Thursday 10th September
Type: Mountains
Distance: 204Km
Start/Finish: Roa de Duero/Riaza


Stage map:



Profile:



First Climb - Km 82.8 - Alto de Santibañez de Ayllón - Category 3:



Second Climb - Km 99.5 - Alto del Campanario - Category 3:



Final Climb - Km 191.0 - Puerto de la Quesera - Category 1:




...and the descent to the finish:



Last 5km:



The General Classification after Stage 13:



Preview (© cyclingnews.com):

The winner should come from a breakaway but the GC men will have work to do

This is a stage that looks odds-on for a breakaway to make it to the finish, although there’s a possible complication in the shape of the first-category Puerto de la Quesara, which tops out just a dozen downhill kilometres from the line.

The stage starts easily enough but begins to roller-coaster after the climb of the Campanario. This terrain should suit the break’s chances but the GC contenders will certainly give the final ascent of the Quesara everything, which won’t suit those out front. They’ll come at it via its steeper flank from Guadalajara.

The final 7km averages a modest six per cent but even a small advantage gained by the summit could well be maintained to the finish.

LIVE TV:
British Eurosport - 3.00pm
TG4 - 3:00pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
ITV4 - 7:00pm
Eurosport 2 - 7:30pm
TG4 - 8:00pm

D9Male

Whatever will be will be on that final climb

Inquitus

D9Male wrote: »

Whatever will be will be on that final climb

Not sure its steep enough or long enough, and Dumoulin descends alot better than Aru, we shall see.

D3PO

the gradients on that final climb should suit Dumoulin. Its very steady and not ultra steep. I cant see todays stage impacting the GC but with only 3 seconds doesn't take much.

what id love to see if Dumoulin surprising Aru with an attack on the decent to try and shake out bigger lead. Wont happy but it would dbe awesome lol.

death1234567

One for the breakaway today. I don't think there'll be any chase from the peleton or any shake up in GC. Saturday is the last important stage.

D9Male

The climb, and the lead into it is a lot more difficult than you might first think. These roads are really really lumpy. In fact, given the short and fast descent, this is a good chance for Aru to get a gap on Dumoulin (or vice versa). The roads are made for attacking.

http://39x28altimetrias.com/resources/Puerto%20de%20la%20Quesera%20-S-.gif

I think the last 40km of this stage are going to be fun.

MPFGLB

Think Tinkoff Saxo will be gunning on the front on that final climb and if Movistar & Katusha (though don't have the firepower) could make a difference ..even a small one

Thought Polanski & Jesen have looked very good for TCS...even stronger than Majka at times

There are also the bonus seconds that could prove crucial so wonder if the break will be allowed to stay away

dastardly00

MPFGLB wrote: »

There are also the bonus seconds that could prove crucial so wonder if the break will be allowed to stay away

And just as a reminder....
The time bonuses are 10, 6 and 4 seconds for the first three riders at the finish, and of 3, 2 and 1 second at the intermediate sprint.

dastardly00

The stage has started.

Peter Velits (BMC), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto Soudal), Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick Step), Cameron Meyer (Orica - GreenEdge) and Andrew Talansky (Cannondale - Garmin) did not start.

JK.BMC

dastardly00 wrote: »

The stage has started.

Peter Velits (BMC), Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto Soudal), Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick Step), Cameron Meyer (Orica - GreenEdge) and Andrew Talansky (Cannondale - Garmin) did not start.

I think Terpstra has looked super strong this year and has climbed very well. I think he has a serious shot at the rainbow jersey in mind, assuming he isn't sick/injured etc. The worlds course has cobbles too.

As for Nico, either today or tomorrow will see him in a break, if only to help Nieve in the later kms, or perhaps stay out there and contest the finish. Not exactly rocket-science analysis given that its Thursday of the final week....

Pudsy33

Nico in the break! Unfortunately so are a other 24 opportunists.

D3PO

think the break will stay clear today and fight for the stage. Lets hope Nicos climbing legs are on and that he can take the stage.

MPFGLB

I must say Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto Soudal)and Andrew Talansky (Cannondale - Garmin) have shown some very poor form this year (by their standards)...Its is a mystery as to why they are so poor especially climbing

Nico in the break as expected (he knows how to get in one for sure) but the competition is fierce. Its a downhill finish so that may be ye deciding factor.

MPFGLB

Bart de Clerq putting the break in jeopardy as MTN chasing to secure their 10th on GC with Meintjes

dastardly00

The break have 5'50" with 108km remaining.

Team Sky : Nicolas Roche
AG2R - La Mondiale : Sébastien Minard
BMC : Darwin Atapuma
Caja Rural : Jose Gonçalves, Angel Madrazo
Cofidis : Cyril Lemoine, Dominique Rollin
Etixx - Quick Step : Pieter Serry
FDJ : Arnaud Courteille
IAM Cycling : Simon Pellaud, Vicente Reynes
Lampre - Merida : Kristijan Durasek
Lotto Soudal : Bart De Clercq, Adam Hansen, Tosh Van der Sande
Movistar : José Joaquiin Rojas
MTN - Qhubeka : Songezo Jim
Cannondale - Garmin : Andre Cardoso
Europcar : Jérôme Cousin, Cyril Gautier
Katusha : Eduard Vorganov
Lotto NL - Jumbo : Timo Roosen
Tinkoff - Saxo : Daniele Bennati, Pawel Poljanski
Trek Factory : Haimar Zubeldia

gordongekko

So is that every team in the break?

Pudsy33

gordongekko wrote: »

So is that every team in the break?

Looks like it, Garmindale were missing earlier (surprise surprise) but seem to have snuck Cardoso in.

dastardly00

JK.BMC wrote: »

I think Terpstra has looked super strong this year and has climbed very well. I think he has a serious shot at the rainbow jersey in mind, assuming he isn't sick/injured etc. The worlds course has cobbles too.

Strange that his team director didn't mention the RR in this quote from this morning.

Rik van sklycke (Etixx-Quick Step sports director):

"Bad news Niki Terpstra hurt his knee with his handlebar and he went back Belgium this morning to see the doctor as he wants to preserves his chances to take part in the individual and team time trials at the world championships."

JK.BMC

dastardly00 wrote: »

Strange that his team director didn't mention the RR in this quote from this morning.

Rik van sklycke (Etixx-Quick Step sports director):

And I wonder is this the truth? Could be some silly-buggering going on here ahead of the worlds in Richmond.

MPFGLB

Lotto having 3 in the break including Hansen and a very strong de Clerq look likes its theirs to lose

dastardly00

JK.BMC wrote: »

And I wonder is this the truth? Could be some silly-buggering going on here ahead of the worlds in Richmond.

I'd be surprised if he wasn't targeting the RR.

REBELSAFC

Saw this on La Vuelta website:

15:23
Roche gives all he's got left
Nicolas Roche (Team Sky):

"Mentally it's tough, I am struggling to finish the Vuelta. Everything went bad the day I crashed on that roundabout at 40 kph. I won't be unhappy when it's over in Madrid. My season will end there."


Does this mean he's out of the worlds?

dastardly00

MTN - Qhubeka have reduced the gap to 4'57" with 68 km to go.

MPFGLB

REBELSAFC wrote: »

Saw this on La Vuelta website:

15:23
Roche gives all he's got left
Nicolas Roche (Team Sky):

"Mentally it's tough, I am struggling to finish the Vuelta. Everything went bad the day I crashed on that roundabout at 40 kph. I won't be unhappy when it's over in Madrid. My season will end there."


Does this mean he's out of the worlds?

Looks like it....and no Dan Martin either as the rumour mill has it ....maybe cos both injured ....was it only 2 weeks ago both were in top 5 at the Vuelta ?

Pudsy33

Oh look, he's talking about Atapuma again.

dastardly00

The break has just over 4 minutes with just over 40 km to go.

dastardly00

The gap to the breakaway is rapidly falling unfortunately.

3'40" with 38 km to go.

Rambling Man

dastardly00 wrote: »

The gap to the breakaway is rapidly falling unfortunately.

3'40" with 38 km to go.

Ah balls.

D9Male

Moreno goes. Good. Lots of racing possible on these roads if they go for it.

D9Male

Silly me. I am on mute. It was Vicioso. Now joined by Purito and closed immediately.

death1234567

At Least JRod tried but it was a hiding to nothing there. Save your energy for Saturday lad or at least the 1st category climb today.

pelevin

Definition of Cyril Gautier : Gutsy rider who never wins anything. Though maybe today's his day.

godtabh

Is there just one in the break now?

death1234567

Nico struggling...

godtabh

one lad in front with 17''

neris

Think tomorrows stage could be an Attapuma drinking game day if the last few minutes are anything to go by. At least 30 mins into the broadcast be pissed enough to fall unconscious and not have to listen to Carlton Kirbys Attapuma love in

Subpopulus

neris wrote: »

Think tomorrows stage could be an Attapuma drinking game day if the last few minutes are anything to go by.

One sip of beer at every mention of Attapuma - better get a slab...

neris

pelevin wrote: »

Definition of Cyril Gautier : Gutsy rider who never wins anything. Though maybe today's his day.

Is that not the same description for Vockler?

neris

id hardly call 18 seconds pushing it and going for it

Arrow in the Knee

It's getting interesting.

Uru attacks but dumolin on his back wheel

pelevin

Great stuff, Aru vs Dumoulin. Unless he drops Dumoulin, Aru could himself lose out on the descent.

neris

gwan dumoulin

dastardly00

Game on now Ger!

mhiggy09

Was roche in the break?

Subpopulus

Gwan Nico!

REBELSAFC

Gooooooooo Nicoooooooo

Arrow in the Knee

Nico in the lead

mhiggy09

mhiggy09 wrote: »

Was roche in the break?

Never mind that! ! He's leading solo just dropped the other Rider

neris

mhiggy09 wrote: »

Was roche in the break?

roche is up there hes just passed Gautier out on teh road

Morrisseeee

Come on Nico

Pudsy33

Go go go NICO