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2016 Vuelta a Espana Route Revealed
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| roturn |
Posted on 12-01-2016 10:18
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The 2nd GT this year that presents its route is the Vuelta a Espana.
While the Spaniards hold a nice record here with 5 wins as also lots of podiums, actually we never had a podium without at least 1 Spaniard, the last two editions went to other riders. First Alarcon and last year to Pluchkin, who made the double GT win.
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 2015 |  Pluchkin |  Tenorio |  Gesink | | 2014 |  Alarcon | Contador | Tenorio | | 2013 | Tenorio |  Nibali | Contador | | 2012 | Madrazo | Contador | Intxausti | | 2011 | Valverde |  A. Schleck | Rujano | | 2010 | A. Schleck | Intxausti | Gomez Marchante | | 2009 | Mancebo | Gesink | Plaza | | 2008 |  Vinokourov | Gutierrez Catalana | Dekker | | 2007 | Mancebo | Kashechkin | Gomez Marchante |
Madrazo surely the biggest disappointment in recent seasons where the Spaniards surely had hoped to see him dominating. Tenorio also wasn`t as strong as in his win here, though was on the podium in 3 consecutive years now.
Contador or Valverde are past their prime, so don`t expect them to move up really, while Intxausti is someone, who struggles against the very best.
Let`s start with the route presentation:
Stages 1 - 5: A start for the sprinters
Similar to the Tour de France the Vuelta organization is going for a sprinter friendly start in the 2016 edition.
Though there are clear differences. Instead of a prologue the Vuelta kicks off with a flat stage.
Valladolid has the honour to start the 2016 Vuelta a Espana and over 150km the peloton moves South towards Salamanca. With such opener, it`s obvious that many sprinter will try to grab the leader jersey. Perfect opportunity for them as many struggle in the time trials, that often start a GT.
And even better for them. Also the 2nd stage is for them. So they can already create a gap in both, GC and Points ranking.
Though their time is most likely to end on day 3. An early individual time trial over a length of 53km gives the time trialists something to aim for. Such distance should see some gaps between the GC riders already but also gives the pure chrono men a chance to take over the lead for at least one day. No mountains or hills until then, they should have a big advantage over the stage racers.
Stage 4 then might see the next change in the GC lead. Two Cat.1 climbs. Not the steepest but still hard enough for pure time trialists. The stronger though might be able to defend their lead here if the puncheurs and stage racers still take it easy.
The last stage of the opening days is another for the sprinters.
Stages 6 - 8: Early GC fight
Already at the end of the first week the GC riders will go for the lead. First a hilly stage, that looks awful for pure climbers, who hate the short climbs. Lots of up and down until the finish, that comes after a short descent after the last Cat.2. Attacking on that one might be crucial to gain time.
The 7th day has the first mountain top finish. The peloton goes up the Sierra Nevada. With 23km a very long climb but not the steepest with just under 6% in average. But the length should see quite a few riders struggling here.
Stage 8 is a good chance for the puncheurs. Many short climbs all over the stage with a double climb to finish the day. Once more nothing for pure climbers.
Stages 9 - 11: Rest for the GC riders
After 3 GC days, we have 3 days for other riders again.
9 & 11 offer more chances for the sprinters. After those they might once again have an advantage in the points competition depending how they share the points.
In between a nasty finish. Most of the day is flat but then a late Cat.2 and the descent to the finish. Can some punchy sprinters come over this climb to take the stage? Will a break take this one? Or will we even see GC riders attacking?
Stages 12 - 13: Mountain Top Finishes
Two consecutive mountain top finishes. First the riders finish on top of Sierra de Béjar. La Covatilla. In especially the first kilometers of the 2nd half are really steep and are a great opportunity for attacks.
The harder stage though might be the next. The finish on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda comes after 19km of climbing with several steep sections in between. Late in the 2nd week as also after some early day climbing, the legs will be tested here.
Stages 14 - 16: Transitional stages
First a flat stage to end the 2nd week. Who of the sprinters has saved the most energy? It might be the penultimate sprinter stage, hence motivation to win here should be high.
The 3rd week begins with two hilly stages. First an easier one with only two late Cat.3`s to pass with a flat finish. Possibly even one for some punchy sprinters.
The next a bit harder with a hill top finish. GC riders must be concentrated here to avoid a time loss. Puncheurs might like this stage but also it might be a typical one for the break.
Stages 17 - 20: Mountaineous 3rd week
For the GC riders, we have a really difficult end of the Vuelta. 4 consecutive mountain stages!
First a MTF on Aramón Formigal. Lots of steep sections but also a couple of short descents over the climb. So it`s just an average of 4% here with a max of 9%.
The 18th day has a rare downhill finish here. That said the stage is everything but easy. 4 Cat.1 climbs on the way. Actually going the same route back again after half time more or less. All 4 climbs are about 10km long and average between 5,5% and 6,6%. Having a bad day already on one of the first 3 mountains might see you have a hard time to avoid a time loss when the real GC attacks should start on the last climb.
Another MTF on day 19. Some smaller climbs before but the big difficulty comes at the end. The Alto de Sotres with 13km length and very steep sections averages at 8% but has lots of 10-13% sections. In especially the first and last kilometers are steep. There you can definitely gain minutes on those who struggle.
Stage 20 is a time trial, just like in the Tour de France. Difference though, we have a tough mountain time trial. Only the middle 1-2 km are a bit downhill. Other than that it`s steep sections everywhere. Whoever can still gain a position or two. This is the last chance.
While the GC should be fix now, the sprinters get their last chance in Madrid to get a stage win. Also the point ranking could still be open seeing a good balance of all stage types.
So what is needed to win the Vuelta? You surely must be a good climber. This is probably the usual thing in any Vuelta. Then you should also not be too bad on the hills seeing that those two terrains are in a perfect balance.
Time trial skills? Surely not unimportant seeing a long 55km flat TT. The 2nd is for the climbers again, so no skills needed really there.
In general it`s a course for the stage racers that can a bit of everything.
7 Flat
6 Hill (2 HTF)
6 Mountain (5 MTF)
2 Timetrials (12km Mountain, 55km Flat) |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 13:48
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 12-01-2016 10:37
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Great presentation Roturn!
I have to say i like the route very much, we will have to sit down with Aleksandr and value the options, after also Giro route will be prresented, but i can already see the Vuelta as the nice chance to defend the title. Long TT near the start is much better for Pluchkin than TT on stage 20. 
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-01-2016 10:56
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Very nice route presentation!
Stages 12 and 13 look hellish.
We'll probably never get anywhere close getting a wildcard, but now that we're PCT we at least have 0,01% hope of maybe racing here so let's live off that  |
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| roturn |
Posted on 12-01-2016 11:01
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Ian Butler wrote:
Very nice route presentation!
Stages 12 and 13 look hellish.
We'll probably never get anywhere close getting a wildcard, but now that we're PCT we at least have 0,01% hope of maybe racing here so let's live off that
As PCT team you always have a chance of a PT/GT wildcard. |
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| matt17br |
Posted on 12-01-2016 12:28
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I really like this route. It's about what the Vuelta should be year by year (except the 70 tt kms  ) but without the typical examples of ____/
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 12-01-2016 13:03
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Waiting for the Giro route, but at this point Gesink looks set for a return to Spain.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 12-01-2016 13:28
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Time to get Phinney, huh?!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 12-01-2016 13:29
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..or Gesink, as always..
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| Roman |
Posted on 12-01-2016 15:53
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GT for Spilak?
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 12-01-2016 16:06
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Only 5 MTF? This is supposed to be the Vuelta right?
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 12-01-2016 16:08
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 haha
Pretty un veulta route was expecting at least 15 MTF from the 21 days haha |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 12-01-2016 16:09
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Will be interesting to see if Theo Bos goes for Vuelta or Giro
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| Heine |
Posted on 13-01-2016 16:24
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Should be a better race for the likes of Spilak than TDF. Always interesting to see how the top riders are sent. If you are lucky you could be the big fish in a small pond, or you can just be another fish in a large pond
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-01-2016 16:08
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This route is definitely the one, that suits Keizer the least. So might actually give Daan Olivier a chance to lead my team here. He should struggle but possibly a top15 or at least top20, which would be nice in his first maxed season. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-01-2016 16:20
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roturn wrote:
This route is definitely the one, that suits Keizer the least. So might actually give Daan Olivier a chance to lead my team here. He should struggle but possibly a top15 or at least top20, which would be nice in his first maxed season.
Why go for a top 20 when you can help Gesink get another podium?
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-01-2016 16:24
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Didn`t know you want to sell Gesink. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-01-2016 16:24
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| CountArach |
Posted on 16-01-2016 06:49
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Well that is quite a tough route, as is expected of the Vuelta, with plenty of tough days along the way. The early ITT is an interesting addition too.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 16-01-2016 07:53
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Oscar Guerao after doing many GT's last year has indicated that he expects fellow sprint Dan Holloway to share the GT sprinters duty. He also finds it amusing that this years Vuelta has indicated that it is sprinter friendly, with only really a handful of stages expected to end in sprints.
Team Boss Smowz was non plussed with Guerao only winning one of 63 GT stages last year, Oscars needs were hardly of note. He did indicate that Jose Alarcon was almost certainly going to miss the Vuelta this year.
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| ember |
Posted on 16-01-2016 19:04
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Even with that long ITT early, it feels like a route where also the climbers have a shot, especially if the hilly stages are raced properly. Those early hilly stages actually look quite difficult, and they could play an important role if the AI allows it, I think.
Thus Guldhammer could fancy this route considering the chance to bring home a stage win with his decent MO/HI combined with his sprint. |
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