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Vuelta al Tachira Discussion
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| jackgibbs |
Posted on 27-10-2026 00:18
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 Vuelta al Tachira
Welcome to the Andes!
The first mandatory event of the CT calendar is also its longest, the Vuelta al Tachira. The Venezuelan CT GTM race takes the peloton on quite the tour over the course of its nine stages, with a route incorporating four days in the high mountains and two individual time-trials.
The Route:
The course opens with two pan-flat sprint stages. Stage 1 is a 124.8km route around Umuquena, while Stage 2 takes on the 116.8km Abejales Circuit. They are followed by two more stages that should still end with some form of bunch kick, but which will demand far more from the sprinters along the way. The 124.6km Stage 3 incorporates a hilly loop before a slightly uphill kick to line, while competing for the podium on Stage 4 should require a true versatile sprint. The 173.2km parcours incorporates a double ascent of a proper climb in the first half of the stage, followed by a notable incline for much of the run in to the finish.
The race then takes to the high mountains for four straight days. The first of those is Stage 5, a 23.2km mountain ITT with just enough flat at the start and finish to give the better time-trialists of the GC contenders an advantage over the purer climbers. Stage 6 is a near-unipuerto over 165.6km, with a bumpy start followed by a long flat drag into the last section of the race: an immense climb to a summit finish, interrupted only by a short dip midway up the mountain.
Next a brutal Stage 7 takes the peloton over 161.5km, dominated by a sawtooth of four sharp and substantive climbs supplemented by a number of other short steep kicks, including a final ramp up to the finish line itself. The climbing ends with Stage 8, where over the course of 127.0km a rolling first half leads into a pair of leg-sappers, before a massive, unyielding ascent to the finish at the highest point of the entire Vuelta.
The route concludes with another ITT for Stage 9, but this time of only 16.5km over mostly flat terrain. And while it may not be the most challenging of conclusions, nevertheless it might very well be a decisive one.
The Favorites:
| Rider | MT | MM | TT | ST | RS | RC |  Cras | 80 | 76 | 73 | 78 | 77 | 77 |  Schlegel | 79 | 78 | 65 | 71 | 74 | 76 |  Burke | 77 | 77 | 69 | 75 | 74 | 80 |  Galta | 79 | 75 | 71 | 75 | 76 | 72 |  Stüssi | 78 | 75 | 74 | 75 | 71 | 76 |  Shikai | 79 | 74 | 74 | 71 | 73 | 73 | | Fernandes | 75 | 73 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 76 |  Osorio | 78 | 75 | 72 | 73 | 72 | 74 |
The startlist for the race is almost the cream of the CT. The demand of a 9 RD commitment for only a C2-level points return means divisional superstar Neilson Powless has stayed home. But the best-of-the-rest GC men are all in attendance.
DeNA Roadstars has brought along the clear overall favorite, Cras. His main challengers are the two-headed IESE monster of Schlegel and Fernandes, the all-around excellence of IncaLine’s Burke, regional favorite Osorio of SEE Turtles, and the veteran savvy of Galta of Billstedt-Horn, Stüssi of JEWA Tirol, and Shikai of Karthago.
| Rider | MT | MM | TT | ST | RS | RC |  Azman | 76 | 77 | 63 | 69 | 72 | 73 |  Pira | 80 | 76 | 65 | 68 | 71 | 73 | | Carcueva | 77 | 77 | 64 | 72 | 72 | 73 |  Masnada | 76 | 76 | 72 | 75 | 74 | 71 |  Berthet | 77 | 77 | 60 | 70 | 75 | 67 |  Jele | 79 | 73 | 52 | 75 | 76 | 73 |  Cort Nielsen | 77 | 75 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 72 | | Rohendi | 75 | 75 | 70 | 73 | 75 | 74 | | Beltran | 77 | 77 | 64 | 70 | 72 | 71 | | Smith | 77 | 76 | 67 | 70 | 72 | 73 | | Rachid | 77 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 76 |  Andriafenomananiaina | 76 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 76 | | Petelin | 78 | 76 | 62 | 70 | 71 | 71 |  Ciccone | 77 | 75 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 73 | | Rochas | 77 | 76 | 61 | 70 | 70 | 73 |  Gonzalez | 77 | 75 | 61 | 71 | 73 | 66 | | Schleck | 77 | 75 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 78 |
Also in the mix are a deep group of secondary favorites, who may consider the podium within reach even if victory itself may seem to be a step or two too far. This group includes Rachid of Simba Cement - Tanga Fresh, Masnada of Fincantieri - Grand Seiko, Berthet of Euskotren - Pays Basque, Cort Nielsen of Air New Zealand - Prada, Beltran of Banco Vaticano-Valkyrie, Ciccone of Parmalat - Croatia, Andriafenomananiaina of THE ONE - Fox God, and Gonzalez of the Brandt Cycling Team.
Other riders of special note include a trio of elite, if one-dimensional, climbers for whom Tachira is the optimal course to contest a GC: Pira from Tafjord Kraft, Jele also of Banco Vaticano, and Petelin also of THE ONE - Fox God.
The superdomestique ranks are deep as well, composed of a cadre of riders who may provide decisive support or find valuable results of their own: this set includes the defending champion Smith of Fincantieri, Azman of Simba Cement, Carcueva of DeNA, Rohendi of IncaLine, Rochas of Euskotren, and Schleck of Billstedt, all joined by far too many other 75+ MO riders to name each individually.
Favorites on the Day:
| Rider | FL | TT | PR | ST | RS | RC | | Politt | 73 | 78 | 76 | 70 | 73 | 72 | | Marryatt | 71 | 77 | 77 | 67 | 74 | 67 | | Nyoni | 69 | 77 | 77 | 67 | 72 | 69 | | Vanderpool | 68 | 77 | 76 | 63 | 65 | 61 | | Paillot | 66 | 76 | 76 | 69 | 68 | 59 | | Jungels | 70 | 76 | 76 | 71 | 72 | 64 | | Howson | 68 | 77 | 77 | 68 | 69 | 67 | | --- --- --- | | Rider | FL | HI | SP | AC | ST | RS | | Sureda | 73 | 71 | 77 | 79 | 71 | 69 | | Tivani | 70 | 67 | 77 | 78 | 68 | 78 |  Korosec | 70 | 74 | 74 | 76 | 72 | 69 | | Losch | 72 | 64 | 77 | 77 | 70 | 66 |  Russo | 73 | 73 | 76 | 78 | 73 | 73 | | Baterdene | 74 | 61 | 76 | 77 | 72 | 70 | | Kelly | 74 | 69 | 75 | 77 | 69 | 73 | | Marin | 74 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 73 | | Alaphilippe | 70 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 66 | | Barbari | 70 | 62 | 75 | 77 | 68 | 67 | | Hayakawa | 70 | 62 | 76 | 74 | 70 | 63 |
Of course, the GC contenders will only be the favorites of the day for less than half of the Vuelta. On paper, the final day’s time-trial lines up Politt of Euskotren as the main man to beat, but he’ll face some stiff competition. Fernandes of IESE may be trying to ride his way onto the podium, while SEE Turtles and Simba Cement bring no fewer than three strong contenders for the day each: Marryatt, Nyoni, and Howson for the former, and Vanderpool, Paillot, and Jungels for the latter.
As for the sprints, the fastest finishes belong to Tivani of IncaLine, Sureda and Baterdene of Simba Cement, Losch of JEWA Tirol, Russo of Deustche WindGuard, and Hayakawa of Fincantieri.
While less favored on pure speed, Kelly of Brandt, Barbari of Air New Zealand, the defending green jersey and stage winner Marin of Karthago, Alaphilippe of IncaLine, and Korosec of the Z2Z Dev Team will also all look to mix it up in the bunch kicks.
Sureda, Russo, Kelly, Alaphilippe, and Korosec may be particularly strong choices on the harder Stage 3 and Stage 4 sprint days, given their greater demonstrated capabilities in the hills.
The 164-rider strong peloton has quite the enterprise ahead of them. We’ll see who stands on the top step come San Antonia del Tachira! |
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| jackgibbs |
Posted on 27-10-2026 00:19
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Hoping for a Masnada Top-10 and some scattered sprint return from Hayakawa. Turn that into a Top-5 and a podium respectively and I'd be absolutely thrilled. |
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| seancoll |
Posted on 27-10-2026 00:36
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Been thinking about this one for a while (sorry PT Triple) as embark on the inaugural Tour of the Continents!
Truly a shame how weak the sprint field is - I really thought someone would drpo in with a rockstar fastman, but alas this should be a relatively open field. Maybe we can grab the surprise win on the final TT as well - would like to think Kent Main might do well on the uphill one too. Osorio is obviously the GC choice while Obando might grab high youth points!
Super excited to see folks go after their longest race of the year! Cras is the clear favorite overall.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 27-10-2026 01:06
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New finish for stage 7 that hopefully makes that stage more of a factor.
Cras the man to beat. Guess it is a sign that the sprinter quality has come down that the top guys are 77s. 4 sprint stages and a green jersey means nice points for someone.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 27-10-2026 02:29
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Win goal for us, not totally sure why. Was hoping maybe Cras wouldn't come to make it a little more possible. 
As for Shikai looking forward to see how he performs in the mountains, I feel like it can go either way given I don't know how much MM factors in. He should gain some time on most across the two TTs and stay close enough on the climbs, so I'm gonna hope for a podium (and hopefully not find that's too optimistic).
Sprint field looks fun, brought Marin just in case it was this weak and got lucky, no idea if he'll even compete but any points from him is bonus points as far as I'm concerned so can't be disappointed. I do kinda hope Korosec wins a stage just to see some dev team success.
Thanks for the in-depth preview jack! Very nice to be back racing again.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Ezeefreak |
Posted on 27-10-2026 05:48
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Posts: 788
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First Thanks for the preview.
Our first real test this year. And clearly THE race for Cras, so lets hope he is in best conditions as well as his teammates. With this of course we hope for a GC Win but thats not easy at all, the competition is good and if we end "only" at the Podium we cant be overly disappointed but still. Lets hope he deliver as expected.
Good Luck to everyone else too, just not too much luck 
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 27-10-2026 09:04
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Thanks for the nice preview jack, although you missed to mention it's the premiere race for our Devo Team Le Creuset (and the return of them as a single sponsor after more than three years) 
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 27-10-2026 13:05
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Not getting mentioned in the preview doesn't exactly fill us with hope as we make our annual pilgrimage to South America. Hopefully Antonelli can find a way to do something here regardless.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 29-10-2026 09:26
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 27-10-2026 13:51
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Finally we can see our big star Pira in the mountains for the first time in our jersey.
Hopefully neither STA, RES, REC and TT are required in this race.  |
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| Caspi |
Posted on 27-10-2026 14:30
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CT GTM let's go!
Thanks for the preview, Jack.
I don't see Masnada in the top 5, but Hayakawa could podium a stage.
We have high expectations as well:
- GC: Top 10 from Rachid.
- Points: Top 3 from Sureda.
- Stages: 1 win
Sureda should be favorite in the sprints with Baterdene as a very capable leadout.
It would also be cool to see Azman go for the KoM or a stage win in the mountains.
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| jackgibbs |
Posted on 27-10-2026 14:39
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Caspi wrote:
I don't see Masnada in the top 5, but Hayakawa could podium a stage.
Yeah Masnada in the Top 5 is definitely dreamland. Feels like 7th-8th is the right (optimistic) band for him, looking at the competition. But one can always hope...
Edited by jackgibbs on 27-10-2026 14:50
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 27-10-2026 15:14
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I'm going all-in in this race
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| Blasing |
Posted on 28-10-2026 21:37
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I think from the layout of the stages, Stüssi could be in for a GC win. Hoping for at least a top 3 GC wise and maybe a win on a stage too!
Manager of JEWA TIROL Cycling Team
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 28-10-2026 22:55
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Quite some former riders to root for here, first of all team legend Stüssi, but also Masnada, Fernandes, Rohendi and former loanee Berthet. Hoping for all of them to do something
And also Andriafenomananiaina, just for the reporter to have some fun typing his name over and over again
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-10-2026 06:57
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Second the previous riders point. Both top favourites Cras and Schlegel have history with the team and will be cheered on. In especially cool to see Cras here.
Have great memories here around riders such as unmaxed Olivier or Aru as also Krieger getting a stage iirc. Not having ridden this race a lot but when I did, the performance was nice. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 29-10-2026 08:01
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No big hopes for big results by Le Creuset, but just trying to do stuff and maybe get a lucky stage win
I feel that is exactly what we are doing here, attacked early. Got caught and then another attacked. He also got caught but we are active and will be there when Lady Furtuna strikes
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 29-10-2026 08:28
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Congrats jack on another early season win! And thanks to red for kicking the race off!
I have to second Heine, it's good to see our riders active although it didn't yield much today. But if you don't try you won't succeed.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 29-10-2026 08:51
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Disappointing start, but 5th isn't the end of the world. However, 0 points in the intermediate sprints and a train that actually looked alright. Sureda just didn't have any punch left despite his 79 AC. Could Baterdene be too strong as a leadout?
Luckily stage 3 and 4 should suit Sureda better.
Congrats on the win, Jack
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 29-10-2026 08:59
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Nice that Marin gave it a go in the sprint at least, this might be unrealistic but I'd really love to see him score a point by the time this race is done.
Congrats Jack on the win! And thanks rd for the great report!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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