La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 5 - Huesca - Sabiñanigo, 184.4 km *Spoilers*

Stage 5 - Huesca - Sabiñanigo, 184.4 km
Saturday 24 October, 11.55BST.

The 5th stage on La Vuelta is played out in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Following a gently rolling route for 115 kilometres the last 70 kilometres are quite demanding. The last 16 kilometres descend into Sabiñánigo.



A prolonged, virtually flat run-in makes way for three climbs in the last 70 kilometres of stage 5. The finale is relatively easy, so GC contenders may not be interested to put pressure on one another. Therefore it is likely to see action from those trying to get into the breakaway.



The first uphill is the Alto de Vio: a narrow road of 13.5 kilometres to an elevation of 1,265 metres. It is a steady climb with an average gradient of 4.7%.



Following a short downhill the route continues to climb to the highest point of the day. The Alto de Fanlo is 6.4 kilometer long and rises mostly at around 4%. Yet, the last kilometres has sections at double digit gradients.



The riders move through Fanlo, a village at an elevation of 1,365 metres, before a 22 kilometres descent into Fiscal. It is here that the Alto de Petralba, an ascent on a wide road with two tunnels, kicks in hard. The first 3 kilometres and a section halfway, after the Berroy tunnel, are toughest with ramps up to 9.5%. The second tunnel is 2.6 kilometres long and ends just before the summit. The Petralba climb is 8.5 kilometres long with an average gradient of 5.2%.



The last 16 kilometres are played out on the same road. The riders plunge down into Sabiñánigo, where the last 2 kilometres are a false flat run-in to the line. The intermediate sprint – located just before the Alto de Petralba – comes with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds.



Huesca

7 stages of La Vuelta have departed from Huesca
52.463 inhabitants.

Huesca has known how to successfully preserve its age-old history and tradition through the immaculate preservation of its patrimony. The Medieval heritage of its cathedral and its cloisters blends together perfectly with such varied natural settings and the Monegros or the Pyrenees. This area has already hosted seven La Vuelta departures. The last one was in 2012, with a stage finale in Teruel’s Alcañiz Circuit.





Sabiñánigo

7 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in Sabiñánigo
9.245 inhabitants.

Sabiñánigo is one of La Vuelta’s classic arrival cities in Aragon. The seven finish-lines hosted by the Huesca have crowned all types of winners, including the 1998 linear stage in which Sabiñánigo was the protagonist of a loop stage, with both the departure and arrival held in the locality. Belgian rider, Greg Van Avermaet, won there in 2008 in what is, to this day, his only victory in La Vuelta.



Magras con tomate
Another famous and tasty dish of Aragon is magras con tomate. It consists of lean ham cooked with tomato sauce and spices. In some parts of Aragon, eggs are also added to the dish for extra flavor.



Ternasco asado
Ternasco asado is a traditional Aragon dish cooked with a young lamb meat. This rich, juicy and delicious lamb meat is oven cooked in simple spices and often served with fries or salad.




"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

Comments

  • Sounds like it's an absolute bonkers day.
    85kms covered at 50kph average and still no breakaway has been allowed to get up the road.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,444
    Lots of interest then... Is it still on??
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,490
    Tad underwhelming so far.
    GC saving it for tomorrow.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    Bloody great scenery, mind
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,610
    This downhill road should be in the middle east - dull as....

    Agree the earlier scenery was spectacular.
  • Plus me for the gorgeous scenery
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,610
    Interesting last 2 kms.
    Good win for Tim Wellens
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,610
    Dan Martin taken down by Movistar rider 500m from line
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,610
    Roglic does what Roglic does, sprints from 100m out to open a gap
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,593
    Well whoever it was that managed to cause the crash right at the front on the finish climb handed Roglic extra seconds there. Not particularly sporting but what can you do?
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,610
    Pross said:

    Well whoever it was that managed to cause the crash right at the front on the finish climb handed Roglic extra seconds there. Not particularly sporting but what can you do?

    Give them all Roglic's time...
  • Dan Martin taken down by Movistar rider 500m from line

    At least that's his compulsory GT crash out of the way without too much damage this time.
    All given the same time in the end, so Roglic doesn't pinch any seconds.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,490

    Dan Martin taken down by Movistar rider 500m from line

    At least that's his compulsory GT crash out of the way without too much damage this time.
    All given the same time in the end, so Roglic doesn't pinch any seconds.
    The peloton now know Roglic’s ethics (if they had any doubt) and he can’t complain if someone attacks him at an unfortunate incident.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    Super ride by my man, 20 year old Thymen Arensman, the second youngest rider in the race. Second behind Pogacar in the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir and 3rd in that year's U23 Paris-Roubaix as an 18 year old, this kid is going to be one to watch.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,593
    DeadCalm said:

    Super ride by my man, 20 year old Thymen Arensman, the second youngest rider in the race. Second behind Pogacar in the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir and 3rd in that year's U23 Paris-Roubaix as an 18 year old, this kid is going to be one to watch.

    That's quite a range to do well in both those races.
  • DeadCalm said:

    Super ride by my man, 20 year old Thymen Arensman, the second youngest rider in the race. Second behind Pogacar in the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir and 3rd in that year's U23 Paris-Roubaix as an 18 year old, this kid is going to be one to watch.

    It's all CK could say about him as that's clearly what he got from PCS. Didn't have a clue otherwise, unsurprisingly
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249

    DeadCalm said:

    Super ride by my man, 20 year old Thymen Arensman, the second youngest rider in the race. Second behind Pogacar in the 2018 Tour de l'Avenir and 3rd in that year's U23 Paris-Roubaix as an 18 year old, this kid is going to be one to watch.

    It's all CK could say about him as that's clearly what he got from PCS. Didn't have a clue otherwise, unsurprisingly


    It's all CK could say about him as that's clearly what he got from PCS. Didn't have a clue otherwise, unsurprisingly

    I was watching in my local bar without the benefit (lol) of CK's commentary and didn't realise at first that it was Arensman in the break. Once I figured it out I was enthralled. He's the next Dutch superstar. I'm sure of it.

    Mark Donovan, the other Sunweb rider in the initial break, who hails from Cumbria and is only 21. is another one to watch.