La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 16: Salamanca > Ciudad Rodrigo - 162 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 20,675
Stage 16: Salamanca > Ciudad Rodrigo - 162 km
Friday 6 November, 12.00 GMT.
At 162 kilometres, the 16th stage of La Vuelta travels from Salamanca to Ciudad Rodrigo. It's a demanding route with most elevation gain in the middle section, so it is likely to favour attackers looking for one of the last opportunities to get into the break and contest for the stage win.
If the last two days are anything to go by, it's going to be a battle.
The first part of the race is nothing special. On rolling roads the riders head in southeasterly direction. After 45 kilometres the route descends before continuing in undulating fashion to the most trying section of the day.
After 75 kilometres the route begins to runs false flat uphill into the Sierra de Francia. Gradually it gets steeper until the riders enter the Alto El Portillo. This is a 13.8 kilometres climb at 4.4%, (GPM 2)
A descent of almost 15 kilometres takes the riders down to Las Mestas in the Extremadura. The road goes back up again, although the first 14 kilometres only as a false flat. But after moving through Riomalo de Arriba the Alto El Robledo begins. This is 11.8 kilometres ascent with an average gradient of 4%, but it's final 6kms average closer to 7%.
The riders crest the Robledo to descend back into Castile and León. A few uphills pep up the route before a 10 kilometres downhill leads onto a flat run-in of 5 kilometres to the line.
Salamanca
21 stages of La Vuelta have departed from Salamanca
144.228 inhabitants
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city lies on several hills by the Tormes River. Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. In the Peninsular War theatre of the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Salamanca took place on 22 July 1812 in the nearby fields of Arapiles, in which an Anglo-Portuguese Army led by Wellington decisively defeated the French army of Marmont. The western quarter of Salamanca was seriously damaged by cannon fire. The battle which raged that day is famous as a defining moment in military history and thirteen thousand men were killed or wounded in the space of only a few short hours.
Salamanca has hosted 21 departures for the Spanish tour throughout its history. The last stage to depart from the Salamanca capital is a recent and very special memory for the race. In 2018, Simon Yates wore his brand new red jersey in a crowded Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, which he would eventually wear in Madrid also.
Ciudad Rodrigo
2 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in Ciudad Rodrigo.
12.513 inhabitants
Ciudad Rodrigo is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, located near the Spanish-Portuguese border. Its position as a fortified town on the main road from Portugal to Salamanca made it militarily important in the middle years of the Napoleonic Peninsular War. The British General Wellington began his 1812 campaign by taking Ciudad Rodrigo by storm on the night of January 19, 1812. Major-General Thomas Picton's (yes, that man with the statue) 3rd Division assaulted the "greater" breach while Robert Craufurd's Light Division attacked the "lesser" breach.
Allied losses in the siege were 195 killed and 916 wounded. The 2,000-man French garrison under Brig-Gen Barrié lost 529 killed and wounded, while the rest were captured. The French Army of Portugal lost its entire siege train among the 142 captured cannon.
Among its sporting achievements are two La Vuelta visits (1999 and 2000), with stage winners that have gone down in cycling history: Jan Ullrich and Alexandre Vinokourov.
Typical Salamanca Food Dishes:
Hornazo: salty, oven-baked pastry stuffed with ham, sausage, bacon, cooked egg, and sometimes even chicken.
Cochinillo al fuego: roasted suckling pig.
Farinato: white sausage meat made with breadcrumbs, seasoning, lard, and usually served with fried egg.
Chanfaina salmantina: dish made with rice, different swine cuts, giblet, lamb, sweet bread, and pieces of "chorizo"
Salamanca Drinks
In Salamanca, the two most prominant areas from which the region's wines are produced are Ribera del Duero and the Sierra de Salamanca.
Friday 6 November, 12.00 GMT.
At 162 kilometres, the 16th stage of La Vuelta travels from Salamanca to Ciudad Rodrigo. It's a demanding route with most elevation gain in the middle section, so it is likely to favour attackers looking for one of the last opportunities to get into the break and contest for the stage win.
If the last two days are anything to go by, it's going to be a battle.
The first part of the race is nothing special. On rolling roads the riders head in southeasterly direction. After 45 kilometres the route descends before continuing in undulating fashion to the most trying section of the day.
After 75 kilometres the route begins to runs false flat uphill into the Sierra de Francia. Gradually it gets steeper until the riders enter the Alto El Portillo. This is a 13.8 kilometres climb at 4.4%, (GPM 2)
A descent of almost 15 kilometres takes the riders down to Las Mestas in the Extremadura. The road goes back up again, although the first 14 kilometres only as a false flat. But after moving through Riomalo de Arriba the Alto El Robledo begins. This is 11.8 kilometres ascent with an average gradient of 4%, but it's final 6kms average closer to 7%.
The riders crest the Robledo to descend back into Castile and León. A few uphills pep up the route before a 10 kilometres downhill leads onto a flat run-in of 5 kilometres to the line.
Salamanca
21 stages of La Vuelta have departed from Salamanca
144.228 inhabitants
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city lies on several hills by the Tormes River. Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. In the Peninsular War theatre of the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Salamanca took place on 22 July 1812 in the nearby fields of Arapiles, in which an Anglo-Portuguese Army led by Wellington decisively defeated the French army of Marmont. The western quarter of Salamanca was seriously damaged by cannon fire. The battle which raged that day is famous as a defining moment in military history and thirteen thousand men were killed or wounded in the space of only a few short hours.
Salamanca has hosted 21 departures for the Spanish tour throughout its history. The last stage to depart from the Salamanca capital is a recent and very special memory for the race. In 2018, Simon Yates wore his brand new red jersey in a crowded Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, which he would eventually wear in Madrid also.
Ciudad Rodrigo
2 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in Ciudad Rodrigo.
12.513 inhabitants
Ciudad Rodrigo is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, located near the Spanish-Portuguese border. Its position as a fortified town on the main road from Portugal to Salamanca made it militarily important in the middle years of the Napoleonic Peninsular War. The British General Wellington began his 1812 campaign by taking Ciudad Rodrigo by storm on the night of January 19, 1812. Major-General Thomas Picton's (yes, that man with the statue) 3rd Division assaulted the "greater" breach while Robert Craufurd's Light Division attacked the "lesser" breach.
Allied losses in the siege were 195 killed and 916 wounded. The 2,000-man French garrison under Brig-Gen Barrié lost 529 killed and wounded, while the rest were captured. The French Army of Portugal lost its entire siege train among the 142 captured cannon.
Among its sporting achievements are two La Vuelta visits (1999 and 2000), with stage winners that have gone down in cycling history: Jan Ullrich and Alexandre Vinokourov.
Typical Salamanca Food Dishes:
Hornazo: salty, oven-baked pastry stuffed with ham, sausage, bacon, cooked egg, and sometimes even chicken.
Cochinillo al fuego: roasted suckling pig.
Farinato: white sausage meat made with breadcrumbs, seasoning, lard, and usually served with fried egg.
Chanfaina salmantina: dish made with rice, different swine cuts, giblet, lamb, sweet bread, and pieces of "chorizo"
Salamanca Drinks
In Salamanca, the two most prominant areas from which the region's wines are produced are Ribera del Duero and the Sierra de Salamanca.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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What kind of weather are we expecting? Jumbo Visma may be hoping it doesn't rain again, lest their gilet-donning skills fail them again. If Formigal was anything to go by (granted the last 20km to Ciudad Rodrigo is markedly different), Hugh Carthy will be hoping it does.
Should be wet again, but not as cold. Not very windy.
That was initially the same for me.
After, I read a few factual books on the Peninsular campaign, as his books stirred my interest.
Hence I included this "double header" in the OP.
Felt Z6 2012
Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
Tall....
www.seewildlife.co.uk
Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Robert Stannard (Mitchelton-Scott), Kobe Goossens (Lotto Soudal), Jesus Ezquerra (Burgos-BH) Angel Madrazo and Juan Felipe Osorio (Burgos-BH)
Have under 6 minutes with Bora and UAE leading the pursuitThey h
Roglic does another smash and grab job for 6 seconds, after Magnus Cort wins with ease.
Roglic
Carapaz +45s
Carthy +53s
GC without bonus seconds
Roglic
Carapaz +3s
Carthy +5s
GC with bonus seconds and revised stage 10 rules
Carthy
Roglic +5s
Carapaz +5s
DQT's attempts to get their 100th GT stage after the Bennett relegation are turning into a running gag.
Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
No. Pogacar actually had the edge on him 30 v 28 seconds
It's also amusing to see the people (from other places) that derided Sky for being boring trying to convince themselves that this is new exciting racing.
But there would still be a race for the stage. A stage is still valuable. But with time bonuses, for a superior sprinter amongst the GC guys, when GTs are often decided by less than a minutes, the easiest way to get an advantage is wait for the sprint.
Easier said than done, but a strong team can make it happen repeatedly. And it's not the most inspiring use of such a team.
Roglic has been the dominant figure (one TT aside) this season from start to finish, but I don't think he's ever been at the front before the flamme rouge at any time.