La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 10: Castro Urdiales > Suances - 185 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,675
La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 10: Castro Urdiales > Suances - 185 km
Friday 30 October, 11-45 GMT.
At 185 kilometres, stage 10 on La Vuelta travels on flat to bumpy roads close to the Bay of Biscay. The race runs from Castro Urdiales to Suances. The stage is likely to unfold another sprint finish. Yet, the fast men should take note of the last 2 kilometres.
It has been a long time since La Vuelta last visited Castro Urdiales. In 1958, the race started in the town on the Bay of Biscay and traveled to Santander, where Frenchman Jean Graczyk took the spoils.
The route traverses the Cantabrian coast in easterly direction.
At kilometre 117, the riders move through Torrelavega, which lies 10 kilometres south of Suances ligt. Yet, the route continues a little further east to tackle the only KOM climb of the day. The Alto de San Cipriano is 5.5 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 4.4%.
Still 60 kilometres to go at the crest of the Alto de San Cipriano. The route once again runs along the coast. Despite being far from flat, strong sprinters should be able to hold on. Especially since the last 10 kilometres are flat.
Sprinters should be able to survive those sections before their teams could reel in the breakaway in time for a bunch sprint in the streets of Suances.
The intermediate sprint – at kilometre 135.5 – comes with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Paolo Bettini is the last stage winner in Suances in 2008.
In an all Italian affair, he outgunned Davide Rebellin and Damiano Cunego.
Favourites 10th stage 2020 Vuelta a España
*** Sam Bennett, Pascal Ackermann,
** Jasper Philipsen, Jon Aberasturi
* Gerben Thijssen, Jakub Mareczko, Max Kanter, Magnus Cort
Castro Urdiales
2 stages of La Vuelta have departed from Castro Urdiales
31.977 inhabitants
La Vuelta has not had a stage departure in Castro Urdiales for the last 60 years. The last time a stage took off from this Cantabrian village was in April 1958. The stage ended in Santander and was won by French rider, Jean Graczyk. 20 years later, the city was named as Historical Complex (1978) for its emblematic city centre that dates back to Medieval times, made up of streets and buildings that have been very well-preserved by local institutions.
Its chief industries are tourism, fishing, and the preservation of fish, especially sardines and anchovies, in oil. The Lolin and La Castreña anchovy canning factories serve as a reminder of the town's closeness to this industry and its proximity to the sea.
Suances
1 stage of La Vuelta have had finale in Suances
8.716 inhabitants
Deceuninck-Quick Step’s dominance in La Vuelta began with one name: Paolo Bettini. The Italian rider, a two-time world champion, won five of the first seven stage victories of the Belgian team in La Vuelta. The last one was in Suances (2008). Bettini proved his world champion prowess in the coastal municipality’s steep slopes, finishing off his legendary victory tally with what would be his final triumph as a professional rider.
Due to the beaches and the hotels, Suances is the most important centre of tourism in the central coast of Cantabria. The touristic season starts in June and ends in October.
Basque Dish of the Day.
Txipirones
Txipirones are baby squid cooked in their own ink. The ink is often mixed with white wine and garlic to give it more flavour.
Bacalao a la Vizcaína
Another cod dish, bacalao a la Vizcaína is from the Vizcaya province of the Basque Country, of which Bilbao is the capital. It’s a piece of cod smothered in a tomato sauce, made from onions, garlic and roasted red peppers.
Friday 30 October, 11-45 GMT.
At 185 kilometres, stage 10 on La Vuelta travels on flat to bumpy roads close to the Bay of Biscay. The race runs from Castro Urdiales to Suances. The stage is likely to unfold another sprint finish. Yet, the fast men should take note of the last 2 kilometres.
It has been a long time since La Vuelta last visited Castro Urdiales. In 1958, the race started in the town on the Bay of Biscay and traveled to Santander, where Frenchman Jean Graczyk took the spoils.
The route traverses the Cantabrian coast in easterly direction.
At kilometre 117, the riders move through Torrelavega, which lies 10 kilometres south of Suances ligt. Yet, the route continues a little further east to tackle the only KOM climb of the day. The Alto de San Cipriano is 5.5 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 4.4%.
Still 60 kilometres to go at the crest of the Alto de San Cipriano. The route once again runs along the coast. Despite being far from flat, strong sprinters should be able to hold on. Especially since the last 10 kilometres are flat.
Sprinters should be able to survive those sections before their teams could reel in the breakaway in time for a bunch sprint in the streets of Suances.
The intermediate sprint – at kilometre 135.5 – comes with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Paolo Bettini is the last stage winner in Suances in 2008.
In an all Italian affair, he outgunned Davide Rebellin and Damiano Cunego.
Favourites 10th stage 2020 Vuelta a España
*** Sam Bennett, Pascal Ackermann,
** Jasper Philipsen, Jon Aberasturi
* Gerben Thijssen, Jakub Mareczko, Max Kanter, Magnus Cort
Castro Urdiales
2 stages of La Vuelta have departed from Castro Urdiales
31.977 inhabitants
La Vuelta has not had a stage departure in Castro Urdiales for the last 60 years. The last time a stage took off from this Cantabrian village was in April 1958. The stage ended in Santander and was won by French rider, Jean Graczyk. 20 years later, the city was named as Historical Complex (1978) for its emblematic city centre that dates back to Medieval times, made up of streets and buildings that have been very well-preserved by local institutions.
Its chief industries are tourism, fishing, and the preservation of fish, especially sardines and anchovies, in oil. The Lolin and La Castreña anchovy canning factories serve as a reminder of the town's closeness to this industry and its proximity to the sea.
Suances
1 stage of La Vuelta have had finale in Suances
8.716 inhabitants
Deceuninck-Quick Step’s dominance in La Vuelta began with one name: Paolo Bettini. The Italian rider, a two-time world champion, won five of the first seven stage victories of the Belgian team in La Vuelta. The last one was in Suances (2008). Bettini proved his world champion prowess in the coastal municipality’s steep slopes, finishing off his legendary victory tally with what would be his final triumph as a professional rider.
Due to the beaches and the hotels, Suances is the most important centre of tourism in the central coast of Cantabria. The touristic season starts in June and ends in October.
Basque Dish of the Day.
Txipirones
Txipirones are baby squid cooked in their own ink. The ink is often mixed with white wine and garlic to give it more flavour.
Bacalao a la Vizcaína
Another cod dish, bacalao a la Vizcaína is from the Vizcaya province of the Basque Country, of which Bilbao is the capital. It’s a piece of cod smothered in a tomato sauce, made from onions, garlic and roasted red peppers.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Definitely not great for veggies in the north of Spain.
Obviously they didn't know it was going to end up being an October / November race this time....
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/vuelta-a-espana/vuelta-a-espana-2021-will-be-the-first-bike-race-ever-to-start-inside-a-cathedral-474246
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4283719,-4.0437886,3a,75y,124.27h,75.14t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sq22Gx4LVd-ZJ4O4uk3O9cQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i21
This is the segment:
https://www.strava.com/segments/22671503
Jonathan Lastra (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA), Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal), Alexander Molenaar (Burgos BH) and Pim Ligthart (Total Direct Energie)
Other than that, having driven around there a few times, my congratulations to the organisers for finding a flat route in the region. Not easy to do!
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
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2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
I think the tie breaker, in the absence of a TT is the sum of all their finishing positions.
Not that it matters now, but I do wonder how Bennett would have fared were he in top condition. Today's finish was a fair bit more testing than the one in stage 14 last year (which he won).
This being the Vuelta, they changed it back again.
Red Roglic.
Also, Großschartner was second today and got a 6-second bonus.
Bennett finished over 12 minutes back. I don't think he'll put himself through a week of lumpy/mountainous stages for the Madrid finale (assuming the Vuelta makes it that far); same goes for at least some of the other sprinters too, I think.
There can't be many GT champions who've won more than 3 stages en-route. He could become the latest to do so if his usual third-week fade doesn't manifest.