La Vuelta 2021: Stage 2 - Caleruega > Burgos. Gamonal - 166,7kms **Spoilers**
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,730
Stage 2 - Caleruega > Burgos. Gamonal - 166,7kms
15-08-2021Start time 12-32pm
The stage starts in Caleruega, where Santo Dominico de Guzmán, the founder of the Dominican order, was born in 1170, who gave his name to two countries, the Dominican Republic and Dominica.
Heading initially South West, the route then turns North to head back to Burgos, finishing in the most populated neighbourhood: Gamonal..
The stage starts in the shadow of the monastery erected in his memory in the heart of the small Castilian town of Caleruega.
It doesn't get much flatter than this in Spain and there are no categorised climbs along the route.
The wind can always be a factor on Castile’s high plateau, but the odds must favour a mass bunched sprint with the true specialists to the fore.
Final kms.
The finish line is located on broad expanse of Calle Vitoria, the road flat for the final 2.5km.
Last year, Pascal Ackermann powered to two stage wins, which made him the most successful sprinter of that edition. Two years ago, both Sam Bennett and Fabio Jakobsen took two wins.
The Quick Step rider looks to be once again finding his form, after suffering that horrific crash in Poland.
Favourites 2nd stage 2021 Vuelta a España
*** Fabio Jakobsen, Jasper Philipsen, Arnaud Démare
** Matteo Trentin, Michael Matthews, Alberto Dainese
* Alex Aranburu, Sebastián Molano, Jordi Meeus, Clément Venturini, Riccardo Minali, Jon Aberasturi, Juan José Lobato
Caleruega. VIII Centenario de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Unprecedented departure
423 inhabitants
The Monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, dates back to the 13th century.
Gamonal
17 stages of La Vuelta have finished in Burgos.
175.821 inhabitants
La Gamonal is one of Burgos’ most unique neighbourhoods. Currently, the municipality’s most highly-populated neighbourhood. However, this expansion has not resulted in the loss of its essence or its roots.
The Battle of Burgos, also known as Battle of Gamonal, was fought on November 10, 1808, during the Peninsular War in the village of Gamonal, near Burgos, Spain. A powerful French army under Marshal Bessières overwhelmed and destroyed the outnumbered Spanish troops under General Belveder, opening central Spain to invasion.
In 1812, the British under the then General Arthur Wellesley, laid siege to Burgos and it's castle. The French repulsed every attempt to seize the fortress, resulting in Wellington's withdrawal.
Tinto Pesquera’s top cuvée is only made in exceptional years and comes from Viña Alta, the first vineyards planted by Familia Fernández Rivera in the early 1970s – a single 900m high plot, the fruit of which then spends 30 months in French oak.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments
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Caleb Ewan is the other standout favourite? I think that might be a bit out of date but hopefully people will pick him for PTP!0
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Sorry.Pross said:Caleb Ewan is the other standout favourite? I think that might be a bit out of date but hopefully people will pick him for PTP!
I took him out of the favourites list but didn't proof read what I'd written.
It's probably going to get worse, as I won't be updating these prepared threads.
Maybe I should cut this favs bit from the rest."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.1 -
Today's rabbits are: Diego Rubio (Burgos-BH), Sergio Martin (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
Groupama are leading the peloton, which is why their 4 minute gap has been cut by 30 seconds.
IMO, they are often guilty of not giving the break a long enough leash."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
FDJ controlling for demare? Just got in ..."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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Yes it appears"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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The Vuelta is the one race where there are less people watching roadside on these plain stages, than were roadside under Covid lockdown.
Not even one man and his dog.
Then there's Kirby.
Think I'll give this a miss."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Of course there is a big crash at 4kms out.
Bora look worse off but I expect somebody will take a hit for their GC hopes."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Win for Phillipsen0
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Another GC outsider fared even worse.
Harm Vanhoucke lost a whopping 3'-10".
He was 2nd in last month's Tour de l'Ain."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Was amazed how overlooked he was in PTP in favour of Jakobsen who is still only just coming back from that crash.thejimmymethod said:Win for Phillipsen
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The final sprint seemed to go on for ever!
Jakobsen was the fastest in the sprint but chose the longer route to the line.
Alpecin Fenix have to be team of the year - they've mixed it up with the WT teams all year and have won loads.0 -
Yeah, my man Molano went too early, put in a strong acceleration but couldn't hold it.0
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Yup. It was 50-50 with Philipsen but went with with Demare instead.Pross said:
Was amazed how overlooked he was in PTP in favour of Jakobsen who is still only just coming back from that crash.thejimmymethod said:Win for Phillipsen
Muppet.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 -
Movistar only 8th in the team competition.0
