This 167km stage from Rota to Ronda is almost pan flat, which means there will be heavy responsibility on the likes of Giant and Cofidis to bring back the morning breakaway and ensure a bunch sprint in Ronda. The stage starts in Rota, across the Bay of Cadiz from Cadiz itself, next to the Rota Spanish Naval Base. The road heads North then East into the town of Jerez de la Frontera before heading North towards the City of Seville. Last kms
The peloton hit the City of Seville with 17km to go, and this is where we find the day's intermediate sprint. Seville is the 4th largest town in Spain, and the hottest city in Europe. in 1519 Ferdinand Magellan left Seville for his first circumnavigation of the Earth. The peloton head South East out of Seville before turning North with just under 10km remaining. There are a number of roundabouts in the finishing sectors, including a large one at 4km, at just before 2km, and then one either side of the flamme rouge before a 90degree left hand turn at 600m to go onto C. Castillo de Marchenilla where we find the finish line. The last few kms are almost flat but slightly downhill. This will ensure a fast run-in, however the last 700km or so do have a gradient of about 5%, which may discount some of the bigger sprinters like Nacer Bouhanni. Although this finish might actually better suit one of his leadout men like Geoffrey Soupe or Julien Simon, I still expect Bouhanni to be the man for today's sprint for Cofidis. However, this slight gradient is possibly more suited to someone like John Degenkolb or Peter Sagan and with the benefit of his leadout I think the Giant man can take down the stage today.
Tricky finish to this stage for the sprinters, agree with MC on the two fancied riders and the profile, which also has a nasty little squeeze point just by the bottom of the ramp.
I liked the way TGA delivered Dumoulin into the turn at the bottom of yesterday's climb, and now with them on the front working to bring back the three breakaway riders they're signalling Degenkolb for the win, and I like that he has that bit of a kick on a finish like this, but yes Sagan is the obvious danger and would not want to be laying him at all. Danny van Poppel for a place has claims as he is also suited by the finish, but it will be a big test for him to ride forwardly and then hold his position, and so he requires lots of luck as he doesn't have the experience to punch through gaps that aren't there.
Good luck to all, SP
Tricky finish to this stage for the sprinters, agree with MC on the two fancied riders and the profile, which also has a nasty little squeeze point just by the bottom of the ramp. I liked the way TGA delivered Dumoulin into the turn at the bottom of
Sagan looked flat. Degenkolb looked like he had won that, but probably came from too far back with small cover. DVP never on the scene. Ewan was just in the right place at the right time, and obviously had good sensations as he stamped down that big gear. Big win for him at this level. Some consolation the Australian OGE team get another win, and this time with an Australian. In retrospect the big lay was obviously Bouhani, COF never really getting involved, Bouhani bandaged all over like the Mummy, and obviously not suited by the finale.
Sagan looked flat. Degenkolb looked like he had won that, but probably came from too far back with small cover. DVP never on the scene. Ewan was just in the right place at the right time, and obviously had good sensations as he stamped down that big
Yeah perfect finish for Bouhanni, I'm sure he'll have an excuse though. The lay for me was Sagan. Yesterday's finish was really hard and had to of taken something out of him. Amazing rider and he still got 3rd today. He might of got closer if he finished with the other sprinters on yesterday's stage.
Yeah perfect finish for Bouhanni, I'm sure he'll have an excuse though. The lay for me was Sagan. Yesterday's finish was really hard and had to of taken something out of him. Amazing rider and he still got 3rd today. He might of got closer if he
Just got home have missed the stage but i see there has bit a little shake up on gc!! Dumoulin taking red and Froome making 15 secs on most of his rivals going above Rodriguez and Quintana in to 7th overall!! What happened was there a big split in the finale? I know Froome likes to be up there on sprint stages to avoid trouble seems like its given him a nice little bonus!
Just got home have missed the stage but i see there has bit a little shake up on gc!! Dumoulin taking red and Froome making 15 secs on most of his rivals going above Rodriguez and Quintana in to 7th overall!! What happened was there a big split in th
Have just checked the full result and seems Dumoulin and Froome gained 6 secs over the rest of the gc contenders by being in the first 15 riders home (Froome 12th quite a sprint!). Not as big a gain as i thought on first glance but still a little bonus!
Have just checked the full result and seems Dumoulin and Froome gained 6 secs over the rest of the gc contenders by being in the first 15 riders home (Froome 12th quite a sprint!). Not as big a gain as i thought on first glance but still a little bon
Froome, Majka, Moreno, Pozzovivo and Dumoulin all gained 6 secs on the rest. Small gap on the drag finish. May or may not stand (there were gaps initially yesterday too but in the end everyone got the same time)
Froome, Majka, Moreno, Pozzovivo and Dumoulin all gained 6 secs on the rest. Small gap on the drag finish. May or may not stand (there were gaps initially yesterday too but in the end everyone got the same time)
Yes god work from OGE who have obviously come here determined to make sure they put the TDF behind them, though i think they will be a bit annoyed they lost the leaders jersey today!
Yes god work from OGE who have obviously come here determined to make sure they put the TDF behind them, though i think they will be a bit annoyed they lost the leaders jersey today!
Narrow roads and a tight corner with 600m to go meant a possibility of time gaps. Well played by Froome there. Makes 6 seconds on the others. 6 second gap would be hard to overturn by race officials, I think it will stand.
Narrow roads and a tight corner with 600m to go meant a possibility of time gaps. Well played by Froome there. Makes 6 seconds on the others. 6 second gap would be hard to overturn by race officials, I think it will stand.
I think OGE would of traded one less day in the Leaders jersey for a stage win for their young sprinter if you asked them at the start of the day. However I wonder if Chavez can take back the leaders jersey tomorrow or if it will go to one of the big guns. The last 3km's are very steep.
I think OGE would of traded one less day in the Leaders jersey for a stage win for their young sprinter if you asked them at the start of the day. However I wonder if Chavez can take back the leaders jersey tomorrow or if it will go to one of the bi
Not sure I can accept Bouhani being a clone of a rider who just got his first GT win, to me Bouhani is increasingly looking a lot more like Cavendish if anyone with his low aero style, perfectly suited to purely flat bunch sprints. I mean, would Cavendish have been suited today? Nope!
The gaps will stand today, they actually stood yesterday, (you only have to check my VL thread and adjust the gaps for today to see that) but initially yesterday some mug in the timekeeping pavilion entered a 3 secs gap where there wasn't one and left out a couple of riders also -- or ran the wrong program as much of it is computerised.
Not sure I can accept Bouhani being a clone of a rider who just got his first GT win, to me Bouhani is increasingly looking a lot more like Cavendish if anyone with his low aero style, perfectly suited to purely flat bunch sprints. I mean, would Cave
Here's Bouhanni mixing it with the GC guys on a much much harder finish in last year's race - 750m @ 12% rather than the 500m @ 6% today - no other sprinters within 15 seconds. Accept what you want to accept of course . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHbuxpfMy-0
Here's Bouhanni mixing it with the GC guys on a much much harder finish in last year's race - 750m @ 12% rather than the 500m @ 6% today - no other sprinters within 15 seconds. Accept what you want to accept of course .https://www.youtube.com/watch?
I used the word accept since in an open debate I'm always willing to be convinced. There's no doubt he was there on that stage, I didn't remember it, but in a general sense and running that stage 10 times, he is only ever going do that once. If he is as good on ramps and gradients of this type as he was on that day than he would be a more prolific winner, and I have never heard him described as a versatile sprinter.
I used the word accept since in an open debate I'm always willing to be convinced. There's no doubt he was there on that stage, I didn't remember it, but in a general sense and running that stage 10 times, he is only ever going do that once. If he i
Have to agree with gb and disagree with sp here, no surprise really. Bit unfair and pointless comparing Bouhanni to Cavendish. Bouhanni finished 5th on the cobbled stage in the tdf this year then crashed out of the race the following day. His next race was the one-day race circuito de Getxo which finishes on a steep 750m uphill ramp of about 7-8%, he won that beating Lobato of movistar. As far as sprinters go he seems pretty versatile. He may not be prolific (although has won 4 times since crashing out of the tdf in july) but he's won 5 grand tour stages and more than a few world tour stages as well, not bad for his age. If he rode for a good team he'd probably have even more wins.
Have to agree with gb and disagree with sp here, no surprise really. Bit unfair and pointless comparing Bouhanni to Cavendish.Bouhanni finished 5th on the cobbled stage in the tdf this year then crashed out of the race the following day. His next r