This stage could be another for the sprinters, but it will require a lot of work from them and their teams to keep it together and a successful breakaway seems more likely.
The circus on the periphery of the Vuelta continues to take most of the spotlight, which is a pity as the racing is top-quality. The break almost made it yesterday, with Bouet caught within 200 metres of the finish line and Danny Van Poppel emerging to take the first Grand Tour win of his short career.
This stage could be another for the sprinters, but it will require a lot of work from them and their teams to keep it together and a successful breakaway seems more likely.
0 Comments
The GC has taken shape after that brutal stage, with Aru emerging as the strongest climber on the day. He hasn't got a lock on the red jersey however, as he isn't the strongest time triallist and Dumoulin, Majka and maybe even Valverde will fancy their chances in overtaking the Astana rider.
The riders will be happy that there's only one categorised climb on this stage, and it will almost certainly end in a bunch sprint finish. The rest day was a welcome respite for the riders, and they will especially glad, as a monster of a stage awaits them today in Andorra. A sadistic set of back to back very steep climbs, it will be a battle for most to make the time cut, and could well be one of the most decisive days for the GC.
A new leader for La Vuelta and he claimed it in style with a dramatic victory for Tom Dumoulin over two superstars of the climbs in Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodriguez. He is developing into a superstar himself, combining his already formidable time trialling ability with powerful climbing legs, he will be a force to watch out for on any race.
Stage 10 is the last one before the rest day, and is likely one for the sprinters that can handle a climb, although a good attack could steal the race as well. Crashes, attacks and general mayhem in Stage 8 produced a fluctuating race at La Vuelta, with three riders abandoning after a nasty crash, stage favourite Sagan got taken down by a motorcycle and got in a vehement argument with organisers, and Jasper Stuyven took a breakout win in a messy sprint. Stage 9 will be one for the mountain goats again, with a sharp climb to finish the racing for the day.
A breakaway gave Bert-Jan Lindeman the chance to take an unlikely win atop the summit of the last stage, but it will be one for the sprinters today, and it seems that the break will kept on a lot shorter leash. In GC news from yesterday a number of riders lost time on the steep finale, with Chris Froome the biggest name to show weakness. He's far from out of it however, and in some way expected that he wouldn't be at top form at the start.
It has already been a successful Vuelta for Esteban Chaves and Orica-Greenedge, two wins for Chaves, 4 days in red, and another win for Ewan, and the memories of the Tour de France are fading fast. There's no reason the pint-sized Colombian can't go well here again, with the summit finish likely to suit the pure climbers.
Orica-Greenedge continue their excellent Vuelta to date, snaring another stage victory with Caleb Ewan, the only downside being that Chaves missed a split in the sprint, and lost the red jersey. He will have an opportunity to take it back in the finale here however, and Dumoulin will have to be attentive to ensure that the in-form Colombian doesn't take a second on the summit finish.
It will be a different day for the riders here, with no climbs throughout the stage, but the finish will mean that the same riders are likely to be the main players. It's a frustrating day for the pure sprinters, with the whole day being flat, until the final 800 metres, which slope upward at 5% into the finish. It will be one for the climbier sprinters and perhaps even the sprintier climbers, but 5% isn't too hard when it's only for 800 metres.
Peter Sagan took a win which may set the tone for a lot of stages to come, but the finish in this stage may be even too tough for him. Indeed it is difficult to pick out a favourite, which will make it a good opportunity for the breakaway to last to the finish.
|
AuthorI'm Jamie Finch-Penninger, better known as Fishy, the best DS to ever sit a couch. Anything which I don't cover for a bigger site will be up here. Archives
October 2015
CategoriesCome here for the previews of all the World Tour races this season, plus any Pro Continental/NRS/tricycle races that take my fancy. Along as it's pro cycling I'll have some sort of opinion on it. I'm Australian, so be prepared for a healthy Orica-Greenedge bias. Please feel free to request any changes or previews, and stay up to date on Twitter and Facebook.
|