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2014 Vuelta a Espana Preview thread
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 03-03-2014 02:33
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The Vuelta route is here, Javier Guillén has been reconfirmed as course designed, over defending champion Tenorio's focal protests, and threats that Santander will focus only on the other two GTs.
We start in the city of Cordoba, for a picturesque flat stage south to Sevilla. One for the sprinters.
Another flat stage gives a second sprinter a chance to grab the leaders jersey, and all the bonus point and podium girls that entails. They will have to deal with the costal winds as the riders finish in Cadiz
Final some interest for the real riders, as we take a slightly controversial move politically, ending up at the top of Gibraltar. The climb of 5km of about 8% gives us a taste of what is to come.
Stage 4 and we are back on the flat roads to Malaga, giving the sprinters yet more time to shine, although today there is a decent obstacle in their way. If they climbed well yesterday, a couple may still be in with a shout of the leaders jersey.
We've waited for the mountains for four days, but no longer, and we hit them in a big way today, all the way up to Pico del Veleta. It may only be 7.8% in average, but when you are climbing for 30 kilometres to a peak at 3400m that sort of stuff adds up to the toughest climb in Spain.
Stage 6 is here, and the riders definitely need some rest. This is a perfect breakaway stage, a tough cat 2 climb to start, then a chance for breakaway riders to collect the KoM points they all dream of before a flat finish in Lorca.
Stage 7 and it's a Javier Guillén special. Some rolling terrain for most of the stage, not much happening, then we climb back up Sierra Nevada. Not much more to say except that this stage is 240km long. Have fun.
Stage 8 is again a recovery stage allowing the sprinters their fun, downhill all the way into Murcia. Although at 180km in length the riders will have to do more than just turn up.
Finally we announce the races first time trial, Tenorio cracks a smile, which immediately disappears when he sees the distance, just 28 kilometres. Make no mistake, this course is for the climbers.
Another flat stage, as we move north into Valencia, this one having just 2 small climbs between the sprinters and the finish line.
We continue alternating between sprinters stages, and those of a more decisive nature, and today we decide to spice it up further so we head for the Pyrenees.
First up we have the Col du Portillion, 8km, 7% this cat 1 takes us into France, where we will spend the rest of the stage.
Next, we have to extend our legs a bit so lets add an HC climb. The Col de Peyresourde is just over 15km long, and at over 6% it's guaranteed to shatter legs.
Straight after the descent finishs we start climbing again, this time up the Col d'Azet. 8km at 6%, this is a natural place to finish the stage. The early ramps force the attacks to come on the first half, and the sharp final few hundered metres ensures separation.
But we're not finished, in fact we are not even half way. Next up come to climbs, which would be categorised on any other stage, but here, you barely notice them. All eyes are focussed on the next big change, the category 1 Col d'Aspin. 12 kilometres in length, and with an average gradient of 6.5% this climb should remove all but the strongest of domestiques.
Next is the biggest climb of the day, the oft underused Tourmalet. 13km, >8% gradient, summitting at over 2100m, this is the toughest France has to offer, and it comes at the after hours of non-stop climbing.
After the Tourmalet, there is the long winding 20km descent into Luz-Saint-Sauveur. And then straight out the other side, up Luz Ardiden to the finish.
After that, any stage is going to be a letdown, so instead the organiser has tried to appease Santander by bringing this stage to finish in the city of Santander, in front of the Bank's headquarters themselves. The fact that the last 100km are pan flat suggests that Santander might need to make roster changes to capitalise on this opportunity to impress the sponsors.
We head out of of Santander for some time in the hills, and finish on the classic Asturian climb of Alto Naranco. Ther is nothing else of interest today, after being conned into allowing multiple climbs 2 days ago Javier Guillén wasn't going to be fooled again.
West we continue, and now out of the mountains, and onto the flat terrain of Galicia, and another day in the sun for the sprinters, although the descent finish could give the break an overdue chance.
We now jump back towards Madrid for the sprinters penultimate chance, finishing in the city of Toledo. The road here is never flat, but never gets steep enough to tire anyone but the weakest out.
Once you are in and aroung Madrid, there is limited choice for climbing, so the only solution is to go big and climb Bola del Mundo. 22km of climbing, topping out at 2200 metres, is not for the faint hearted, but when the last 4km are above 10% in gradient, only the toughest will survive.
There may be limited choice around the climbs you can use in Madrid, but there is some, and that's enough for a second mountain stage.
5 categorised climbs scatter the stage, and while there isn't a big summit finish, there is enough to scatter the field before the flat run in to Avila, where bonus seconds could be all important.
After that tester it's time to descend into Madrid, and for the sprinters to have their parade finish in the capital. Just 120km in length and then they are done.
There is a tradition in Spain of finishing the race with a time trial, and well, Bola del Mundo was a spectacle the first time round, so how much fun would it be to go up it again? We skip the first five boring km for this time trial, leaving us with 18 kilometres of unadulterated agony. Every kilometre, harder and more decisive than the last.
Those of you keeping independent count, will have noticed that this is just 19 stages, and hence, while the sprinters and mainland Spain are done, we do have time to spend two days on Tenerife to finish this race off in style.
First up, is just a hilly stage, there is no need to get too excited, too early. Although obviously, we do go up towards the summit a little bit, at a nice steady 5%, for 20km.
Finally we finish off, in the way at least on Vuelta has to, at the top of Tiede.
I won't even give you the stats, just a pretty view from the bottom:
And the top:
Also, the riders may be forced to climb it twice.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| Heine |
Posted on 03-03-2014 05:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I think I just noticed Sotd drooling at the back, I think a certain Spanish sprinter is looking forward to this addition of the Vuelta
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-03-2014 06:09
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Nice route. Metinvest will maybe give it a shot and try to gain a wildcard. Here, or in Italy. 
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-03-2014 07:54
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Posts: 4102
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Interesting
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| tyriion |
Posted on 03-03-2014 08:03
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Second half looks brutal, great battles await. Certainly climber friendly with just a small TT. And the flat stages should bring nice battles too.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 03-03-2014 08:11
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Madrazo smiles, Tenorio cried. Well, that's a hard route. |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 03-03-2014 08:30
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Grand Tour Champion
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Holy shit. Just. Wow.
Yeah this is going to be a tough year for BPost.
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| roturn |
Posted on 03-03-2014 08:34
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Team Manager
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That`s a very nice route. I like it the most of those 3 GT`s.  |
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| Rin |
Posted on 03-03-2014 08:45
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I would like it if it was the Giro Or I would have a spanish Cunego.
 Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 03:20
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 03-03-2014 09:14
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Wow, that's a Grand Tour for my current roster to avoid. Or for Costagli to actually do well in (relatively speaking). Maybe a top 25?
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| Smowz |
Posted on 03-03-2014 09:43
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This looks a nice design - particularly like the addition of Gibraltar which is something in the no politics ManGame we can have.
Indeed like the visit to Tenerife - which is something in the no logistics ManGame we can have
I'll put it out there - Madrazo doing this plus the Tour may be a 'waste' of his talents? Tenorio could still be good enough to win this - he is a poor mans Phinney outside of Spain. Interesting dilemmas for mb. Going to be very difficult for new Protour teams not to want to go big on some of the available climbers.
Certainly could be worth a shot with Manu for me! He likes the lack of TT's and could well be an outside punt for a top 5 at this.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 03-03-2014 09:56
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Fewest TT kilometres ever had in a ManGame GT, I think.
Got a hard decision now about which GT to focus on.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 03-03-2014 11:27
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Grand Tour Champion
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All these GTs are fucking batshit. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 03-03-2014 13:16
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Heine wrote:
I think I just noticed Sotd drooling at the back, I think a certain Spanish sprinter is looking forward to this addition of the Vuelta
I had a certain goal concerning the Vuelta this season, even before I saw the route - So this indeed makes me happy 
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| Roman |
Posted on 03-03-2014 19:30
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I like this route. It's not too hard to guess who I am going to bring here.
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 03-03-2014 19:41
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Interesting to see that the route is not one particular variant, instead a mixture of stages lifted from different routes and put together with though to create what I'd call a unique route
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 03-03-2014 19:42
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Roman wrote:
I like this route. It's not too hard to guess who I am going to bring here.
Henao probably had a big smile while seeing this. |
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| Roman |
Posted on 03-03-2014 20:07
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Miguel98 wrote:
Roman wrote:
I like this route. It's not too hard to guess who I am going to bring here.
Henao probably had a big smile while seeing this.
Correct. This year I have finally quite a clear idea who will race which GT. It's a nice thing to have.
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 03-03-2014 20:54
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Small Tour Specialist
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Great route with another excellent preview! All 3 GTs should be mega to follow this season. Expect (guessing  ) this is most likely to be the one that the sprinters turn up for. Will be interesting to see how the time-gaps and cut go in PCM13 vs. the PCM12 experience.
Note: I only have PCM12, so have no pre-knowledge!
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 03-03-2014 21:41
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Thanks for doing these mb, and great job assembling the stages SN.
It's certainly going to be interesting to see who's going to be the runner-up here.
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