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Stage 13 » Calatayud › Tarazona (178k)
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If this was the Tour we would be referring to these few stages as "transitional", the supposed calm in the GC race between the two sets of serious climbing. There's three categorised climbs, and a lot of other uncategorised climbs and although two of the categorised ones are Cat 3s and the other, the Cat 1 Beraton, is done and dusted with over 100kms of the stage remaining. There is actually a lot of climbing overall on this stage, with 2400km of climbing overall. At first glance this looks like a day off for the GC guys, despite all the vertical yards, and providing the composition of the morning breakaway meets with everyone's approval you would think they have a decent chance of making it all the way.
The start town of Calatayud is the second largest Zaragoza in the province of Aragon. Here, the peloton are almost exactly halfway between Andorra and Madrid, and a little way South West of Zaragoza. They start of heading East but by the time they get going properly they will have jagged back to the North West, back into the Sistema Ibérico mountains. The first of three categorised climbs is the Cat 3 Alto Collado de Oseja the start of which comes 45km into the stage. This climb is 8.2km @ 3.7%. It has some steeper sections but this one won't cause any sleepless nights as the break should be established by this point and the pace should be pretty slow.
Short descent and then they're straight into the Cat 1 Beraton. This is a toughish climb, it is 10.9km at 4.7% average, but the start is easy and it gets tougher as the climb goes on with the last 5km at nearly 7%. Again, this will be taken at a fairly easy pace and the distance from the finish means this can't be used as a launchpad for attacks. Following the Beraton, there is a long, easy descent with only a few technical sections. Virtually all of the next 60km or so are all downhill. They head round to the East towards the finish town of Tarazona but then they turn South at Torrellas and do a big 'S' round to the South, back past Tarazona to the West and round before coming in from the North. The first part of the detour contains the final climb, the Cat 3 Alto Del Moncayo, which is 8.5km at 4.5%. It's still 33km from the end at the summit of the Moncayo and then a long descent back into Tarazona.
The run in to Tarazona is straightforward, with no roundabouts or street furniture. There is a short descent at 3km to go, which then heads back up, and there are 1400 metres with a gradient of 5% before a flat last km. Giant will still be keen to win a stage with Degenkolb to add to his 9 Vuelta wins but this stage is harder than yesterday with more climbing and they saw today the futility of chasing with no help. More and more they must be thinking that Dumoulin's GC hopes are a bigger prize now. This could be one of those stages where the break gets an enormous amount of time very early on. Even if someone does do some work, or the break isn't favourable, the elastic has to snap at some point and I reckon it will be today. Hansen, De Marchi and co have a good chance.
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Profile
If this was the Tour we would be referring to these few stages as "transitional", the supposed calm in the GC race between the two sets of serious climbing. There's three categorised climbs, and a lot of other uncategorised climbs and although two of the categorised ones are Cat 3s and the other, the Cat 1 Beraton, is done and dusted with over 100kms of the stage remaining. There is actually a lot of climbing overall on this stage, with 2400km of climbing overall. At first glance this looks like a day off for the GC guys, despite all the vertical yards, and providing the composition of the morning breakaway meets with everyone's approval you would think they have a decent chance of making it all the way.
The start town of Calatayud is the second largest Zaragoza in the province of Aragon. Here, the peloton are almost exactly halfway between Andorra and Madrid, and a little way South West of Zaragoza. They start of heading East but by the time they get going properly they will have jagged back to the North West, back into the Sistema Ibérico mountains. The first of three categorised climbs is the Cat 3 Alto Collado de Oseja the start of which comes 45km into the stage. This climb is 8.2km @ 3.7%. It has some steeper sections but this one won't cause any sleepless nights as the break should be established by this point and the pace should be pretty slow.
Short descent and then they're straight into the Cat 1 Beraton. This is a toughish climb, it is 10.9km at 4.7% average, but the start is easy and it gets tougher as the climb goes on with the last 5km at nearly 7%. Again, this will be taken at a fairly easy pace and the distance from the finish means this can't be used as a launchpad for attacks. Following the Beraton, there is a long, easy descent with only a few technical sections. Virtually all of the next 60km or so are all downhill. They head round to the East towards the finish town of Tarazona but then they turn South at Torrellas and do a big 'S' round to the South, back past Tarazona to the West and round before coming in from the North. The first part of the detour contains the final climb, the Cat 3 Alto Del Moncayo, which is 8.5km at 4.5%. It's still 33km from the end at the summit of the Moncayo and then a long descent back into Tarazona.
The run in to Tarazona is straightforward, with no roundabouts or street furniture. There is a short descent at 3km to go, which then heads back up, and there are 1400 metres with a gradient of 5% before a flat last km. Giant will still be keen to win a stage with Degenkolb to add to his 9 Vuelta wins but this stage is harder than yesterday with more climbing and they saw today the futility of chasing with no help. More and more they must be thinking that Dumoulin's GC hopes are a bigger prize now. This could be one of those stages where the break gets an enormous amount of time very early on. Even if someone does do some work, or the break isn't favourable, the elastic has to snap at some point and I reckon it will be today. Hansen, De Marchi and co have a good chance.
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Replies: 21
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Hansen and Thomas super short for what is essentially a bit of a lottery. Want something at a bit of a better price so I've gone for small each ways on Oliveria 50/1, Kiriyenka 50/1 and De Gendt 40/1 all on here. 66s is available for Kiriyenka with 1 or 2 books but not for me.
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Niki Terpstra 22/1, Alessandro de Marchi 25/1, Stephen Cummings 40/1 -- joke prices. Like the idea of SKY letting G off the leash after his devoted work, but 33/1 is no value.
Good luck to all, SP |
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loooks like Quintana is a goner
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wonder if sky will really get behind Nieve to try and get him a podium
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seeems the break of the day may have formed 24 riders including Nicolas Roche, Segio Henao (Team Sky), Davide Arroyo (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Julien Simon (Cofidis), Kevin Reza (FDJ), Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), Romain Sicard (Europcar) and Pawel Poljanski (Tinkoff - Saxo)
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seems it will be mainly Astana and Giant chasing
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Few more riders involved than what you're showing V, although the total amount is correct. Including the three I wanted at ante-post but didn't get matched.
Terpstra De Marchi Cummings. |
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If the breakaway can hang tough to the top of the final climb, keeping the majority of their 3 mins gap than I think they can hold on, since it is mostly downhill thereafter.
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Wind talk?
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Break looking good...
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i backed Henao at 30s but not loads of confidence
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Fair value but I think he really needed to go prior to the descent -- now it looks for a hard man as they begin to punch each other up.
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is some gradiant to the finish which is what i hope could help
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30seconds for Nelson Oliveria out front
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Strength in numbers for LAM in the breakaway are closing any attacks down.
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...And blocking.
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Only a mechanical prevents him from winning this.
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Worst gt stage of the year so far.
Well done mc. Another good tip at odds |
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well looks like its all over! well done to Oliveria if he pulls this off but was anticipating a more competative finish!
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That's two tips in three stages for MC at ante-post -- congratulations mate, a might fine win, 50/1!
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Made up with that, 3 winning stages on the spin and whilst that was far from the biggest bet I'll ever place it was a lovely thing to get back in the car after work, flick onto twitter and see the words "Oliveira still has 1 minute approaching the 2km banner"
Been on a stinker of a run from the second week of the Tour onwards but feels a bit better now. |