La Vuelta 2020 - Stage 17: Sequeros > Alto de La Covatilla - 178,2 km *Spoilers*
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Stage 17: Sequeros > Alto de La Covatilla - 178,2 km
Saturday 7 November, 11.10 GMT.
La Vuelta serves the last chance to move up on GC in a race from Sequero to skistation La Covatilla. So, a A GC stage on paper, though again Jumbo won’t care if the break wins. But the stage is not as hard as the previous weekend.
Five intermediate climbs are to function as demolition workers before the last 9.8 kilometres go up at 7.1%. La Covatilla is a ski resort at an altitude of 1,962 metres, located 220 kilometres west of Madrid. Two years ago Ben King soloed to victory after attacking with Enric Mas inside the last 20 kilometres. La Covatilla hosted La Vuelta on five occasions. The other winners being Dan Martin (2011), Danilo di Luca (2006), Félix Cárdenas (2004) and Santi Blanco (2002).
But the actual finish climb in itself is not the tricky part, the preceding climbing metres are. The race serves five ascents before the ultimate haul up finally kicks in. Three are GPM 3, these are the other two.
The official distance of the Covatilla climb is 9.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1%, which is really just scratching the surface. The finish climb rises multiple times at double digit gradients. The riders tackle the last 10% ramp with the flamme rouge flying over their head before the climb flattens out. The last 900 metres goes up at around 4%.
For some reason, the official site does not include the climb's profile.
Sequeros
Unprecedented departure
239 inhabitants
Despite its modest population and area, Sequeros knows how to showcase its assets. Located right in the Francia Mountain Range, the municipality has a privileged setting, featuring lush nature and an enviable altitude, making it an excellent viewpoint for nature lovers. A self-proclaimed “stress-free territory”, Sequeros honours its title and aims to be a favoured destination among those living in the centre of Spain who are in search of a calm, peaceful destination where they can switch off.
Alto de La Covatilla
5 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in La Covatilla
12.961 inhabitants
La Covatilla was one of the key stages of La Vuelta 18 due to its challenging nature, its beauty and its relevance in the fight for the GC (Simon Yates wore La Roja on its peak for the first time). The race’s previous ride through Candelario, a beautiful Salamanca village with cobblestone streets, provided some of that edition’s most memorable images. In 2020, La Vuelta will once again ride through Candelario after climbing the unprecedented La Garganta mountain pass; ending at La Covatilla where the winner of La Vuelta will be decided. Undoubtedly all the necessary ingredients for a historical stage.
Hinojosa de Duero
The dry, cool air of the region's highlands provide Salamanca with fantastic cheeses- the most popular is called "hinojosa de duero"
Sierra de Salamanca
Salamanca Sweets
Many, if not most Spanish desserts boast ingredients like almonds and honey, whose integration into Spanish recipes are almost entirely thanks to the Moors. In Salamanca, the list of sweets is practically endless, but amongst those that stand out are "amarguillos" (almond cookies),
"mazapan" (marzipan), "bollo maimón" (similar to sponge cake),
and "chochos" (made with anisette).
Saturday 7 November, 11.10 GMT.
La Vuelta serves the last chance to move up on GC in a race from Sequero to skistation La Covatilla. So, a A GC stage on paper, though again Jumbo won’t care if the break wins. But the stage is not as hard as the previous weekend.
Five intermediate climbs are to function as demolition workers before the last 9.8 kilometres go up at 7.1%. La Covatilla is a ski resort at an altitude of 1,962 metres, located 220 kilometres west of Madrid. Two years ago Ben King soloed to victory after attacking with Enric Mas inside the last 20 kilometres. La Covatilla hosted La Vuelta on five occasions. The other winners being Dan Martin (2011), Danilo di Luca (2006), Félix Cárdenas (2004) and Santi Blanco (2002).
But the actual finish climb in itself is not the tricky part, the preceding climbing metres are. The race serves five ascents before the ultimate haul up finally kicks in. Three are GPM 3, these are the other two.
The official distance of the Covatilla climb is 9.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.1%, which is really just scratching the surface. The finish climb rises multiple times at double digit gradients. The riders tackle the last 10% ramp with the flamme rouge flying over their head before the climb flattens out. The last 900 metres goes up at around 4%.
For some reason, the official site does not include the climb's profile.
Sequeros
Unprecedented departure
239 inhabitants
Despite its modest population and area, Sequeros knows how to showcase its assets. Located right in the Francia Mountain Range, the municipality has a privileged setting, featuring lush nature and an enviable altitude, making it an excellent viewpoint for nature lovers. A self-proclaimed “stress-free territory”, Sequeros honours its title and aims to be a favoured destination among those living in the centre of Spain who are in search of a calm, peaceful destination where they can switch off.
Alto de La Covatilla
5 stages of La Vuelta have had finales in La Covatilla
12.961 inhabitants
La Covatilla was one of the key stages of La Vuelta 18 due to its challenging nature, its beauty and its relevance in the fight for the GC (Simon Yates wore La Roja on its peak for the first time). The race’s previous ride through Candelario, a beautiful Salamanca village with cobblestone streets, provided some of that edition’s most memorable images. In 2020, La Vuelta will once again ride through Candelario after climbing the unprecedented La Garganta mountain pass; ending at La Covatilla where the winner of La Vuelta will be decided. Undoubtedly all the necessary ingredients for a historical stage.
Hinojosa de Duero
The dry, cool air of the region's highlands provide Salamanca with fantastic cheeses- the most popular is called "hinojosa de duero"
Sierra de Salamanca
Salamanca Sweets
Many, if not most Spanish desserts boast ingredients like almonds and honey, whose integration into Spanish recipes are almost entirely thanks to the Moors. In Salamanca, the list of sweets is practically endless, but amongst those that stand out are "amarguillos" (almond cookies),
"mazapan" (marzipan), "bollo maimón" (similar to sponge cake),
and "chochos" (made with anisette).
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments
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After nearly 3 weeks we get a veggie stage. I’ve been living on bread and wine for 19 days.2
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Ok, ok, have some Roast lechazo.webboo said:After nearly 3 weeks we get a veggie stage. I’ve been living on bread and wine for 19 days.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
You need to dig a hole, chuck that in, cover it up. Then say a prayer over it.
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Tough day"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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So all in for Carapaz and Carthy or settle for the podium? Hopefully Martin will be the wild card with nothing to lose and help break it up but I suspect it will be 3 people trying to hold on to what they have0
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Live coverage fail.
Plane can't fly for the time being."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
For those wanting a live sport fix in the meantime, stage 2 (an ITT) of the Madrid Challenge is underway - live coverage on their Facebook channel.
Lorena Wiebes won the first stage yesterday.0 -
Lisa Brennauer took today's stage and leads by 10 seconds going into tomorrow (the last day of both men's and women's WT calendars this year).
In La Vuelta the day's break is currently 34-strong, including de la Cruz (+9:29 in GC) and riders from Jumbo, EF1 and Movistar. Jumbo are also riding tempo at the head of the peloton.0 -
Assuming Primož Roglič stays in red today, he'll be the first rider in 13 years to win a Grand Tour and a Monument in the same season.0
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Di Luca?notquite6foot said:Assuming Primož Roglič stays in red today, he'll be the first rider in 13 years to win a Grand Tour and a Monument in the same season.
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Correct.0
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Looks like Jumbo want the stage win. They obviously don't see carapaz or carthy as a threat."Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0
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Movistar took over the pace setting for a while, and now Soler is forging ahead. Jumbo are leading the GC group again.0
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This is a bit turgid0
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Jumbo letting the break go ATM, which has split into 2 groups.
Lead trio of Mäder, Donovan, and I Izagirre.0 -
Liking the use of an ass saver.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 -
Izagirre has dropped Donovan and Mäder, though Gaudu is now coming up from the chase group.0
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Gaudu blows past Izagirre.
Meanwhile the race behind just blows."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Cross-headwinds on La Covatilla apparently.0
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Carthy has a go Carapaz follows."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Carthy has cracked Kus0
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Dan Martin has cracked too.
Mas having a go as well.0 -
Mas tries and Carthy follows.
Roglic sucking wheels.0 -
Big Carapaz attack0
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Roglic struggling to close him down"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Carapaz has 20 seconds0
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Virtual GC between Rog and Carapaz currently halved.
Jumbo guy in the early break now pacing.0 -
A Jumbot gets parachuted in to take the wind."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
