La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 13: Muros > Mirador de Ézaro - 33,7 km ITT *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,730
Stage 13: Muros > Mirador de Ézaro - 33,7 km
Tuesday 3 November, 12.33 GMT.
The 13th stage is perfect for time trialists with puncher's legs. Until stage 20 of the Tour, the nme that would immediately spring to mind would be Primoz Roglic. Following 31.9 kilometres on the flat the finish climb kicks in hard.
It will be pretty because the road follows the Gallacian coast which is always beautiful even if it is supposed to be raining. So, pretty but hard.
The Vuelta visited the Mirador de Ézaro in 2016, when Alexandre Geniez brought the early break home, but a real clash of titans took place eight years ago. Joaquim Rodríguez, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde battled it out on the insane ramps and crossed the line in that order.
The 2020 Vuelta will see the riders tackle the Mirador de Ézaro one at a time. The ascent is only 1.8 kilometres long with an average gradient of 14.6% and ramps up to 29% the hill is sure to cause damage.
The riders roll down the starting ramp in Muros and enter 31.9 kilometres of flat terrain. Perfect roads for guys who can push a big gear. They may be further aided by the weather with predicts a headwind.
The Mirador de Ézaro may be short, but incredibly steep. Anybody who has gone too deep on the long flat section, could pay a huge price in the final 2kms.
Although the steepest ramp (29%) appears in the first half, the second half is toughest with an average gradient of 15.8%.
The time check is located at the base of the finish climb, after 31.9 kilometres.
Muros
Unprecedented departure
8.695 inhabitants
Muros is one of those small hidden jewels found along the winding roads of Galicia. The municipality is one of the northernmost municipalities found in the Rias Baixas area, a true example with regards to the preservation of the customs and traditions of A Coruña’s coastal fishing villages. This charming village has a very special character that will delights visitors with its culture, gastronomy and landscapes.
Abalon
Abalon or Abalone, belonging to a gasteropod mollusk family is highly valued for its meat.
Abalone is one of the most expensive seafoods in the world. Through a combination of location, a talented team and state of the art technology, GMA is able to produce Abalone all yerar round. From the seeding process to the end abalone.
Galician Marine Aquaculture’s farm is located on the estuary of Muros-Noia.
Galician Lobster
Also known as bogavante, Galician lobster is blueish in colour (when it’s alive) and is extremely tender and meaty. Look for bogavante con arroz as this is one of the most traditional Galician seafood dishes.
bogavante con arroz
Rias Baixas
Rías Baixas is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines located in the province of Pontevedra and the south of the province of Corunna in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It is renowned for its white wines made from the Albariño grape variety.
Mirador de Ézaro
2 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in the Mirador de Ézaro. Dumbría.
3.040 inhabitants
We have to go back to the Puerto de Navacerrada, in 2008, to see a time-trial ending in a mountain pass in La Vuelta. But the Mirador de Ézaro is not just any mountain pass. Explosive, tough, short, demanding and with unbeatable views, this A Coruña peak represents exactly what La Vuelta has been searching for this past decade. In 2020, a new rider’s name will feature alongside that of Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez and Alexandre Geniez who have already had victories in this impressive climb.
Tuesday 3 November, 12.33 GMT.
The 13th stage is perfect for time trialists with puncher's legs. Until stage 20 of the Tour, the nme that would immediately spring to mind would be Primoz Roglic. Following 31.9 kilometres on the flat the finish climb kicks in hard.
It will be pretty because the road follows the Gallacian coast which is always beautiful even if it is supposed to be raining. So, pretty but hard.
The Vuelta visited the Mirador de Ézaro in 2016, when Alexandre Geniez brought the early break home, but a real clash of titans took place eight years ago. Joaquim Rodríguez, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde battled it out on the insane ramps and crossed the line in that order.
The 2020 Vuelta will see the riders tackle the Mirador de Ézaro one at a time. The ascent is only 1.8 kilometres long with an average gradient of 14.6% and ramps up to 29% the hill is sure to cause damage.
The riders roll down the starting ramp in Muros and enter 31.9 kilometres of flat terrain. Perfect roads for guys who can push a big gear. They may be further aided by the weather with predicts a headwind.
The Mirador de Ézaro may be short, but incredibly steep. Anybody who has gone too deep on the long flat section, could pay a huge price in the final 2kms.
Although the steepest ramp (29%) appears in the first half, the second half is toughest with an average gradient of 15.8%.
The time check is located at the base of the finish climb, after 31.9 kilometres.
Muros
Unprecedented departure
8.695 inhabitants
Muros is one of those small hidden jewels found along the winding roads of Galicia. The municipality is one of the northernmost municipalities found in the Rias Baixas area, a true example with regards to the preservation of the customs and traditions of A Coruña’s coastal fishing villages. This charming village has a very special character that will delights visitors with its culture, gastronomy and landscapes.
Abalon
Abalon or Abalone, belonging to a gasteropod mollusk family is highly valued for its meat.
Abalone is one of the most expensive seafoods in the world. Through a combination of location, a talented team and state of the art technology, GMA is able to produce Abalone all yerar round. From the seeding process to the end abalone.
Galician Marine Aquaculture’s farm is located on the estuary of Muros-Noia.
Galician Lobster
Also known as bogavante, Galician lobster is blueish in colour (when it’s alive) and is extremely tender and meaty. Look for bogavante con arroz as this is one of the most traditional Galician seafood dishes.
bogavante con arroz
Rias Baixas
Rías Baixas is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines located in the province of Pontevedra and the south of the province of Corunna in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It is renowned for its white wines made from the Albariño grape variety.
Mirador de Ézaro
2 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in the Mirador de Ézaro. Dumbría.
3.040 inhabitants
We have to go back to the Puerto de Navacerrada, in 2008, to see a time-trial ending in a mountain pass in La Vuelta. But the Mirador de Ézaro is not just any mountain pass. Explosive, tough, short, demanding and with unbeatable views, this A Coruña peak represents exactly what La Vuelta has been searching for this past decade. In 2020, a new rider’s name will feature alongside that of Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodríguez and Alexandre Geniez who have already had victories in this impressive climb.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
1
Comments
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Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?0 -
ITT start times from 3pm UK time.
16:00:00 SOLER Marc MOV ESP
16:02:00 CATTANEO Mattia DQS ITA
16:04:00 IZAGIRRE Gorka AST ESP
16:06:00 MARTIN Guillaume COF FRA
16:08:00 HENAO Sergio Luis UAD COL
16:10:00 KUSS Sepp TJV USA
16:12:00 DE LA CRUZ David UAD ESP
16:14:00 GAUDU David GFC FRA
16:16:00 BENNETT George TJV NZL
16:18:00 NIEVE Mikel MTS ESP
16:20:00 VLASOV Aleksandr AST RUS
16:22:00 VALVERDE Alejandro MOV ESP
16:24:00 GROßSCHARTNER Felix BOH AUT
16:26:00 POELS Wout TBM NED
16:28:00 MAS Enric MOV ESP
16:30:00 MARTIN Daniel ISN IRL
16:32:00 CARTHY Hugh John EF1 GBR
16:34:00 ROGLIC Primož TJV SLO
16:36:00 CARAPAZ Richard IGD ECU"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Classic vuelta0
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Was wondering the same. I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?0 -
Any bets Roglic has been practicing the switch?Pross said:
Was wondering the same. I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
It was awful in the Tour.
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.0 -
Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes.Twitter: @RichN950 -
a really good thread with a breakdown of the stage by my former coach, Xavier2
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Xav reckons a bike change is necessaryRichN95. said:Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes.
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Apparently there is to be a dedicated pit stop area, on the climb, for bike changes to take place.moonshine said:
Xav reckons a bike change is necessaryRichN95. said:Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
It's a great little thread that! Thanks for sharing.1
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The big question is where that area is. If it's at the foot of the climb then riders have to lose speed to swap.blazing_saddles said:
Apparently there is to be a dedicated pit stop area, on the climb, for bike changes to take place.moonshine said:
Xav reckons a bike change is necessaryRichN95. said:Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes.
Te other interesting thing about it is that the bikes and helpers can be positioned there waiting, instead of taking a bike from the car roof.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
Ridiculous - if they are allowing them to change bike type, at the very least it should have to do the course with them.0
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Yep. This isn't cyclo-cross.kingstongraham said:Ridiculous - if they are allowing them to change bike type, at the very least it should have to do the course with them.
It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
Can't see anyone trying a 29% ramp on a TT bike. Should make for some change lols.Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0
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https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/vuelta-a-espana/2020/la-vuelta-2020-roglic-always-fades-in-final-week-vaughters-backs-carthy-to-shock-roglic_sto7976456/story.shtml
Vaughters thinks Carthy is underrated as a TTer...0 -
If you're going to have these '2 part' TTs they need to ban bike changes except for mechanicals.
Part of the planning / skill should be optimising bike type (TT, aero road, lightweight road etc) and gearing to best approach the whole course - the interesting part would be different riders making different choices based on their own strength / physiology or plans for the day - as they do at the moment on road stages with some guys on light climbing bikes and others on aero etc.. Time taken to swap a bike shouldn't really be a key factor - this isn't F1.
Alternatively do normal 'rolling' or pan flat TTs to test those particular strengths.0 -
Someone on twitter has suggested that it's at the steepest part of the climb.No_Ta_Doctor said:
The big question is where that area is. If it's at the foot of the climb then riders have to lose speed to swap.blazing_saddles said:
Apparently there is to be a dedicated pit stop area, on the climb, for bike changes to take place.moonshine said:
Xav reckons a bike change is necessaryRichN95. said:Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes.
Te other interesting thing about it is that the bikes and helpers can be positioned there waiting, instead of taking a bike from the car roof.
IF true I hope there are some paramedics standing by for the mechanics who have to give a push start!"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Everyone would just claim to have a "mechanical" at the same point....yorkshireraw said:If you're going to have these '2 part' TTs they need to ban bike changes except for mechanicals.
Part of the planning / skill should be optimising bike type (TT, aero road, lightweight road etc) and gearing to best approach the whole course - the interesting part would be different riders making different choices based on their own strength / physiology or plans for the day - as they do at the moment on road stages with some guys on light climbing bikes and others on aero etc.. Time taken to swap a bike shouldn't really be a key factor - this isn't F1.
Alternatively do normal 'rolling' or pan flat TTs to test those particular strengths.0 -
Potential marginal gain, draft in a champion bobsleigher to do the push start??blazing_saddles said:
Someone on twitter has suggested that it's at the steepest part of the climb.No_Ta_Doctor said:
The big question is where that area is. If it's at the foot of the climb then riders have to lose speed to swap.blazing_saddles said:
Apparently there is to be a dedicated pit stop area, on the climb, for bike changes to take place.moonshine said:
Xav reckons a bike change is necessaryRichN95. said:Pross said:
Was wondering the same . I should think so, they did for the one in the the Tour at La Planche and that was less severe wasn't it albeit longer?Dorset_Boy said:Another brutal Vuelta hill to finish the TT.
Bike changes at the bottom again?
la Planche is 16 minute. ClimbThis won’t be, but I’m not sure you’d get up it on TT bike that you would use for the first 30km. It’ll be more about changing gears than bikes.
Te other interesting thing about it is that the bikes and helpers can be positioned there waiting, instead of taking a bike from the car roof.
IF true I hope there are some paramedics standing by for the mechanics who have to give a push start!0 -
Of course none quite match today's trial, but last year's Giro ITT was the same length and finished up a hill and included all of the current podium.bobmcstuff said:https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/vuelta-a-espana/2020/la-vuelta-2020-roglic-always-fades-in-final-week-vaughters-backs-carthy-to-shock-roglic_sto7976456/story.shtml
Vaughters thinks Carthy is underrated as a TTer...
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2019/stage-9"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Replacement bike has to be same set-up as start bike. Quite easy to check them in at the start and again at the finish if required. Would be pretty obvious if they got a well timed front flat on their TT bike just as they got to the climb and then jumped on a road bike.moonshine said:
Everyone would just claim to have a "mechanical" at the same point....yorkshireraw said:If you're going to have these '2 part' TTs they need to ban bike changes except for mechanicals.
Part of the planning / skill should be optimising bike type (TT, aero road, lightweight road etc) and gearing to best approach the whole course - the interesting part would be different riders making different choices based on their own strength / physiology or plans for the day - as they do at the moment on road stages with some guys on light climbing bikes and others on aero etc.. Time taken to swap a bike shouldn't really be a key factor - this isn't F1.
Alternatively do normal 'rolling' or pan flat TTs to test those particular strengths.0 -
It'd add a bit of interest for the viewer I agree but apart from that a bike change isn't really unfair on anyone and there'd be relatively few courses where they didn't all go for the same sort of bike. It'd only really be the position - road or TT - that was the choice as modern gearing can cover 53*11 and a small enough gear for these guys to smash it up that 1.8km finishing hill today.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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Something for which the Vuelta organisers should get a gold star for, at least:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-a-espana-still-covid-free-fourth-round-of-mass-tests-all-negative/"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Nah, I don't mind a bike change in itself, but it should have to come off the following car.yorkshireraw said:
Replacement bike has to be same set-up as start bike. Quite easy to check them in at the start and again at the finish if required. Would be pretty obvious if they got a well timed front flat on their TT bike just as they got to the climb and then jumped on a road bike.moonshine said:
Everyone would just claim to have a "mechanical" at the same point....yorkshireraw said:If you're going to have these '2 part' TTs they need to ban bike changes except for mechanicals.
Part of the planning / skill should be optimising bike type (TT, aero road, lightweight road etc) and gearing to best approach the whole course - the interesting part would be different riders making different choices based on their own strength / physiology or plans for the day - as they do at the moment on road stages with some guys on light climbing bikes and others on aero etc.. Time taken to swap a bike shouldn't really be a key factor - this isn't F1.
Alternatively do normal 'rolling' or pan flat TTs to test those particular strengths.It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.0 -
Doing a good bike change is as much of a skill as any other part of cycling surely. Mechanicals, crashes happen all the time and fast changes are important.
I'd argue the choice of whether or not to do a bike change adds an extra dimension to the whole thing, it doesn't take it away - is the time lost in the change worth doing it etc. - maybe not so much on this course as the bike change seems to be more or less essential, but when it is borderline it's an interesting extra. You have one more choice:
- Whole thing on TT bike
- Whole thing on climbing bike (maybe with clip ons)
- Whole thing on aero road bike (presumably with clip ons)
- Do a bike change, risk losing more time by messing it up
Surely that's more interesting, not less?
In this case I think a TT bike is critical on the flat (Xavier Disley suggests as much above due to the headwind), and the weight is critical on the climb (easily worth more than the time for a bike change in both cases).
If you remember the Bergen Worlds TT some riders did a change and some didn't, choosing to do the climb on the TT bike.0 -
As this sort of TT become more common there must be scope to design a do it all bike. Even it were a bit slower of one part of the course, not having to change definitely saves time
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Ganna would climb it on the aero extensions."Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0
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Harry Tanfield is first home, having caught 4 minute men....48' - 52"
Meanwhile, Remi Cavanga is 5 minutes into his effort.
Times and splits, as they happen, can be viewed here:
https://www.tissottiming.com/2020/vue/en-gb/default/Stage/13/Live"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.1 -
DId Edmondson do the climb with his TT bike?
He takes 28 seconds off Tanfield's time (currently leads with 48:24).0 -
Cavagna clocks 30:42 at the second check, 18 seconds quicker than Edmondson to that point.0
