La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 6: Biescas - Aramón Formigal, 146.4kms *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
in Pro race
Stage 6: Biescas - Aramón Formigal, 146.4kms
Sunday 25 October

The new stage will be a 146,4-kilometres, with 3040 meters of vertical elevation. The peloton will face two categorised climbs, the Alto de Petralba (Cat 3) and the Alto de Cotefablo (Cat 2), before a new passage through Biescas (where there will be an Intermediate Sprint) that will lead to the final climb to the ski station of Aramón Formigal.






The climb to Aramón Formigal slopes are gentle, never going beyond 10% at its steepest, with an average of 4,6% on its final 14,6 kilometres. Climbing from Biescas means 27 kilometres of continuous ascent, or as it is less optimistically referred to, 27 kilometres of a continuous drag.



Biescas

1 stage of La Vuelta have departed from Biescas
1.479 inhabitants
In 1998, two years after a tragic flood that shook the entire country, La Vuelta celebrated a moving stage departure from Biescas. Two decades later, in 2020, the area has become an enviable natural tourism destination, thanks to its unique glacial landscapes and its numerous open-air activities. It is a fantastic place in which to practice cycling, and is the birthplace of Fernando Escartín, who made it onto the podium of both the Tour de France (1999) and La Vuelta (1997 and 1998).





Basque Dishes of the Day.

Merluza en salsa verde

Literally translated as ‘hake fish in green sauce’, this traditional dish is a seafood lover’s dream. The sauce is made from white wine, parsley garlic and olive oil, while clams are also typically added.



Patatas con chorizo

This dish is essentially what it sounds like – potatoes with chorizo. It is actually a typical dish from La Rioja, but is often eaten in the Basque Country too. The potatoes and chorizo are made into a type of stew, along with peppers, paprika, garlic and onion.



Aramón Formigal

Aramón Formigal hosted one of the most remarkable cycling races of the decade: the 15th stage of La Vuelta 16. That day, Alberto Contador launched an early attack that ended up costing Chris Froome his chances of overall victory and helping Nairo Quintana’s prospects of triumphing in Madrid. If anybody needs reminding of that day, here is a 4 minute recap in English from La Vuelta:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtiaGZtRfbM

Aramón Formigal has been summit finish of La Vuelta in another four occasions, with victory corresponding to José Manuel ‘Tarangu’ Fuente (1972), Agustín Tamames (1975), Pedro Torres (1977) and Warren Barguil (2013).





Expect another bonus second win from the king of the 200 metres attack: Primoz Roglic.





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

  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,599
    Can someone please try and find Cosmo's how the race was won from 2016 please. I'm sure he showed a clip of sky about to catch the group that got away on the Formigal stage, until someone crashed in front of them. I've never been able to find it again though
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    edited October 2020
    I think the riders will be quite thankful that the Aubisque/Tormalet are off today's menu.

    Biescas: the start town and on route.



    The two minor climbs on today's route.




    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Very animated start for the break, but currently only 3 men are just away.

    Cavanga, Magnus Cort and Mertz.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Worth watching for a bit or stick with the Giro? They are occasionally showing a short glimpse in a window on the Giro coverage but doesn't look like anything is happening yet.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Pross said:

    Worth watching for a bit or stick with the Giro? They are occasionally showing a short glimpse in a window on the Giro coverage but doesn't look like anything is happening yet.

    Very big break containing Brother Gorka, who is only 3 and a half minutes down. Guillame Martin up there again with Michael Woods.
    Super fast with 65kms covered already.
    Weather deteriorating too.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    edited October 2020
    Foul conditions
    Carapaz and Carthy putting time into Roglic & Dan Martin seemingly.
    22 secs with c 2kms left for the GC boys
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Race smashed to bits, Roglic losing time to Carthy and Carapaz. Atrocious weather and Ion Izza heading for the stage.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    edited October 2020
    Roglic dropped by Martin, Mas & Chaves
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    No 50m bonus seconds sprint today.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    edited October 2020
    Ion takes the stage.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    Carthy takes c5 secs from Carapaz
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Carthy first of the GC contenders, takes a few seconds from Carapaz. Roglic losing nearly a minute.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    edited October 2020
    Carapaz 18secs ahead of Carthy, with Dan M (at 20 s) 3rd and Roglic in 4th (at 30 s) on GC
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Carapaz takes the lead. Somehow missed Martin finish but he's now in front of Roglic on GC.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    Has a team ever taken 2 GT GC jerseys on the same day?!!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Roglic lost 43". Carapaz leading, Carthy at 20", Martin at 20" and Roglic at 30".
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Dorset_Boy said:

    Has a team ever taken 2 GT GC jerseys on the same day?!!

    Doubt it as this is the first time they'll have overlapped.
  • amrushton
    amrushton Posts: 1,312
    edited October 2020
    Brailsford v.happy tonight. Vaughters also. Carthy turning into a great rider.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    Pross said:

    Dorset_Boy said:

    Has a team ever taken 2 GT GC jerseys on the same day?!!

    Doubt it as this is the first time they'll have overlapped.
    Did the Giro & Vuelta not overlap back in the day, before the Vuelta moved to September?
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Pross said:

    Dorset_Boy said:

    Has a team ever taken 2 GT GC jerseys on the same day?!!

    Doubt it as this is the first time they'll have overlapped.

    It's not

    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    I stand corrected. When I first started watching they were very close together but didn't overlap.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,953
    Fantastic to see proper racing is happening in the Vuelta too.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Formigal: The graveyard of red hot favourites.

    That was a special stage as well.
    No Paris-Roubaix, no Tourmalet, but still quite a super Sunday.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    It was odd seeing Roglic in longs at the end of the stage when everyone else was in shorts.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Pross said:

    It was odd seeing Roglic in longs at the end of the stage when everyone else was in shorts.

    I have some respect for this.

    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Don't know what has got into Ineos these days, but the damage to Jumbo was done when they attacked.............on the downhill.
    They split the peloton and gapped Roglic and co by 20 seconds. His support were all blown out in the chase, but for Bennett.
    Apparently he had been suffering in the cold and wet (odd, given his background) and may have done a "Valverde" by going back to the team car for a bit of a kit change.



    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Not seen this mentioned anywhere else, but I think Ion Izagirre's win completes his set of GT stage wins.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,557
    andyp said:

    Not seen this mentioned anywhere else, but I think Ion Izagirre's win completes his set of GT stage wins.

    That's certainly what they were saying on commentary.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    andyp said:

    Not seen this mentioned anywhere else, but I think Ion Izagirre's win completes his set of GT stage wins.


    It does. Of the riders on the list he may be the one with the fewest career victories - just 10 (excluding nationals)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    blazing_saddles said:

    Don't know what has got into Ineos these days, but the damage to Jumbo was done when they attacked.............on the downhill.
    They split the peloton and gapped Roglic and co by 20 seconds. His support were all blown out in the chase, but for Bennett.
    Apparently he had been suffering in the cold and wet (odd, given his background) and may have done a "Valverde" by going back to the team car for a bit of a kit change.



    Thanks - just watching the ITV highlights - couldn't figure out how Roglic lost all his teammates!

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