La Vuelta 2019, Stage 16: Pravia > Alto de La Cubilla. Lena 09/09/2019 - 144,4 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
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La Vuelta 2019, Stage 16: Pravia > Alto de La Cubilla. Lena 09/09/2019 - 144,4 km
The 16th stage of La Vuelta a España precedes the second rest day. Two intermediate climbs and the long and unprecedented Alto de la Cubilla mark this 144.4 kilometres race. The stage is tailor-made for diesel-powered climbers. Men with stamina.
The first 50 kilometres are perfect to stretch the legs. Or to battle your way into the breakaway. Following the start the 16th stage of La Vuelta serves a sheer endless false flat to the first proper uphill stretches and the three big climbs.
The Puerto de San Lorenzo kicks in at kilometre 50. It is a grinding ascent of 10 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.5%.
Up next is the Alto de la Cobertoria, which is another slow burner. Again a prolonged false flat before the actual ascent of 8.3 kilometres goes up with an average gradient of 8.2%. The Cobertoria is a regular in La Vuelta.
A short and steep descent brings the riders to the foot of the last mountain. Alto de la Cubilla links Asturias with its neighbouring region León. A 16 kilometres false flat precedes the actual climb. The Cubilla is a 17.8 kilometres grind with an average gradient of 6.2%. Maybe this more traditional Grand Tour climb can break the familiar pattern we have seen established on the succession of ramps, but as things stand, the race leader looks untouchable.
Favourites 16th stage 2019 Vuelta a España
After today, the probability is that the winner will come from the breakaway, although due to the length of the final climb it will have to be established early, or they may not have the required time gap, to make it to the finish.
Favourites 16th stage 2019 Vuelta a España
*** Miguel Ángel López, Primoz Roglic
** Rafal Majka, Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde
* Tadej Pogacar, Thomas De Gendt, Ben O’Connor, Wout Poels, the wildcards etc etc
Pravia
Unprecedented departure
8,384 inhabitants.
There have been settlements in Pravia since the Palaeolithic era, attracted by its fertile land. The town flourished from the eighth century onwards, when the capital of the Asturian Kingdom was moved to Pravia by King Silo. The well-known Church of Santianes dates from this era and is one of the best remaining examples of pre-Romanic construction and the oldest in the Kingdom of Asturias.
At least they won't be short of soap in the team hotels.
Alto de La Cubilla. Lena
Unprecedented Vuelta finale.
Despite the numerous mountain passes La Vuelta has already visited in Asturias, year after year the Principality continues to discover heights the race has never scaled before. The pass Puerto de La Cubilla is on a par with its counterparts in the Pyrenees in terms of length, winding route, and the incomparable beauty of the climb. Over 20 kilometres of constant climbing with inclines of around 5%, and even some steeper stretches that run into double figures. This is a very popular and much-loved mountain pass among cycling tourists, and in La Vuelta 19 this high-flying stage is making its first ever appearance in the race.
The 16th stage of La Vuelta a España precedes the second rest day. Two intermediate climbs and the long and unprecedented Alto de la Cubilla mark this 144.4 kilometres race. The stage is tailor-made for diesel-powered climbers. Men with stamina.
The first 50 kilometres are perfect to stretch the legs. Or to battle your way into the breakaway. Following the start the 16th stage of La Vuelta serves a sheer endless false flat to the first proper uphill stretches and the three big climbs.
The Puerto de San Lorenzo kicks in at kilometre 50. It is a grinding ascent of 10 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.5%.
Up next is the Alto de la Cobertoria, which is another slow burner. Again a prolonged false flat before the actual ascent of 8.3 kilometres goes up with an average gradient of 8.2%. The Cobertoria is a regular in La Vuelta.
A short and steep descent brings the riders to the foot of the last mountain. Alto de la Cubilla links Asturias with its neighbouring region León. A 16 kilometres false flat precedes the actual climb. The Cubilla is a 17.8 kilometres grind with an average gradient of 6.2%. Maybe this more traditional Grand Tour climb can break the familiar pattern we have seen established on the succession of ramps, but as things stand, the race leader looks untouchable.
Favourites 16th stage 2019 Vuelta a España
After today, the probability is that the winner will come from the breakaway, although due to the length of the final climb it will have to be established early, or they may not have the required time gap, to make it to the finish.
Favourites 16th stage 2019 Vuelta a España
*** Miguel Ángel López, Primoz Roglic
** Rafal Majka, Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde
* Tadej Pogacar, Thomas De Gendt, Ben O’Connor, Wout Poels, the wildcards etc etc
Pravia
Unprecedented departure
8,384 inhabitants.
There have been settlements in Pravia since the Palaeolithic era, attracted by its fertile land. The town flourished from the eighth century onwards, when the capital of the Asturian Kingdom was moved to Pravia by King Silo. The well-known Church of Santianes dates from this era and is one of the best remaining examples of pre-Romanic construction and the oldest in the Kingdom of Asturias.
At least they won't be short of soap in the team hotels.
Alto de La Cubilla. Lena
Unprecedented Vuelta finale.
Despite the numerous mountain passes La Vuelta has already visited in Asturias, year after year the Principality continues to discover heights the race has never scaled before. The pass Puerto de La Cubilla is on a par with its counterparts in the Pyrenees in terms of length, winding route, and the incomparable beauty of the climb. Over 20 kilometres of constant climbing with inclines of around 5%, and even some steeper stretches that run into double figures. This is a very popular and much-loved mountain pass among cycling tourists, and in La Vuelta 19 this high-flying stage is making its first ever appearance in the race.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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That's a great picture, looks a great climb, love the way you can see the variations in gradient.
Whenever there's a mountain, Quintana attacks, gets a few seconds, then watches as Roglic and either Pogacar or Valverde come past.
Madrazo lurks behind Bouchard for about 400m looking fairly relaxed, suddenly bursts burst to attack with 500m or so to go, starts slowing, looks over his shoulder to see what he's achieved and Bouchard sneaks past on his blindside to nick the points whilst Madrazo is still trying to work out where he's gone.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Bouchard into the jersey. Madrazo's running out of steam the longer the race goes on.
One hour and a half of chaos followed by one hour and a half of calm, followed by whatever the GC boys can manage in the finale.
Standard GT mountain fare.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
I don't mind it. The red bar tape however is totally classless
yep, this.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Stage result:
1 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 4:01:22
2 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Ineos 0:00:22
3 Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team 0:00:40
4 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:42
5 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:01:12
6 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:02:09
7 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias 0:02:15
8 Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Dimension Data 0:02:21
22:44:28 +07 - September 09, 2019
Pogacar, Lopez and Roglič group were 5:58 down. Valverde and Majka were around 6:20 back and Quintana came in around 8:32 down.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
These names make it look like a cat has sat on the Commissaire's keyboard
Not to worry, there's an Austrian in that 10th spot.
Since 2017 haha. Not strung out at the front of a GT so much last year though.
Makes the bikes stand out more tho...