La Vuelta 2023: Stage 2: Mataró - Barcelona, 181.8km ***Spoilers***
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,730
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Stage 2: Mataró - Barcelona, 181.8km
August 27th.
Start Time: 11-45 am BST.
The stage begins only 40km up the coast in Mataró. It takes in two climbs in the first half of the race, the third-category Coll de Sant Bartomeu (6.6km at 4.5%) and second-category Coll d'Estenalles (12.1km at 3.9%). The rest of the route is not flat either, but the main focus after the Coll d’Estenalles will be the finale in Barcelona, which is still more than 100 kilometres away, on the iconic Montjuïc in Barcelona.
The finale is a replica of 2012, when La Vuelta last visited Barcelona: the Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina. Montjuïc is a scenic wooded hill overlooking Barcelona and that’s where the finale is played out. The climb is tackled multiple times on a closing circuit at the Volta a Catalunya, but just once here.
Final Kms:
The 2.5 kilometres ascent to the Montjuïc castle averages 4.6%, while the last 900 metres rise at 9.4%.
What to Expect.
Looks perfect for punchers, but some of the best punchers are also GC contenders.....
Mataró
First participation in La Vuelta.
129,120 inhabitants
Mataró (Catalan pronunciation: [mətəˈɾo]) is the capital and largest town of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia.
It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-east of Barcelona.
The capital of the Maresme Region is a city whose origins date back to Roman times, and whose streets reflect the Baroque influences, colonial and Modernist architecture that have played a part throughout its extensive history.
Mataró was declared a city by royal decree, even though at the time (nineteenth century) the population fell short of the requirement for city status.
Bacallà amb samfaina
Salted cod is very widely eaten in Catalonia. The fish need to be desalted for up to 3 days before you can start cooking it although, nowadays, it can be bought already desalted in speciality shops. The accompaniment is a sauce made with vegetables, onion, garlic and tomatoes very very similar to the Castilian pisto or the French ratatouille.
Mandonguilles amb sípia
What a great Catalan invention. Meatballs cooked with cuttlefish in a rich gravy sauce. Really tasty and original. In fact, this combination of meat and seafood is very common. The locals call it mar i muntanya, literally, sea and mountain. The pollastre amb llagosta, chicken and lobster is definitely the king of this Catalan version of the “surf & turf”.
Fricandó
These are slices of veal cut and cooked in a rich sauce with seasonal mushrooms: a great way for meat lovers to taste traditional food in Barcelona.
August 27th.
Start Time: 11-45 am BST.
The stage begins only 40km up the coast in Mataró. It takes in two climbs in the first half of the race, the third-category Coll de Sant Bartomeu (6.6km at 4.5%) and second-category Coll d'Estenalles (12.1km at 3.9%). The rest of the route is not flat either, but the main focus after the Coll d’Estenalles will be the finale in Barcelona, which is still more than 100 kilometres away, on the iconic Montjuïc in Barcelona.
The finale is a replica of 2012, when La Vuelta last visited Barcelona: the Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina. Montjuïc is a scenic wooded hill overlooking Barcelona and that’s where the finale is played out. The climb is tackled multiple times on a closing circuit at the Volta a Catalunya, but just once here.
Final Kms:
The 2.5 kilometres ascent to the Montjuïc castle averages 4.6%, while the last 900 metres rise at 9.4%.
What to Expect.
Looks perfect for punchers, but some of the best punchers are also GC contenders.....
Mataró
First participation in La Vuelta.
129,120 inhabitants
Mataró (Catalan pronunciation: [mətəˈɾo]) is the capital and largest town of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia.
It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-east of Barcelona.
The capital of the Maresme Region is a city whose origins date back to Roman times, and whose streets reflect the Baroque influences, colonial and Modernist architecture that have played a part throughout its extensive history.
Mataró was declared a city by royal decree, even though at the time (nineteenth century) the population fell short of the requirement for city status.
Bacallà amb samfaina
Salted cod is very widely eaten in Catalonia. The fish need to be desalted for up to 3 days before you can start cooking it although, nowadays, it can be bought already desalted in speciality shops. The accompaniment is a sauce made with vegetables, onion, garlic and tomatoes very very similar to the Castilian pisto or the French ratatouille.
Mandonguilles amb sípia
What a great Catalan invention. Meatballs cooked with cuttlefish in a rich gravy sauce. Really tasty and original. In fact, this combination of meat and seafood is very common. The locals call it mar i muntanya, literally, sea and mountain. The pollastre amb llagosta, chicken and lobster is definitely the king of this Catalan version of the “surf & turf”.
Fricandó
These are slices of veal cut and cooked in a rich sauce with seasonal mushrooms: a great way for meat lovers to taste traditional food in Barcelona.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
2
Comments
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“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
The weather certainly has gone from one extreme, to another. A truly shocking forecast for August on the Med.
No wonder the organisers have acted this time.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Another change.
GC times now taken 9km from the finish, so the climb is neutralised as well.
Not sure why 5 men have bothered to go in the break, under the circumstances.
As it’s the same thing in Belgium, Brian Smith just questioned safety if riders are still going to go for the win.
Simply moving the problem further down the road, you still have the problem."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Currently racing on dry roads."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Try a repeat, comment held for approval. Is there some filter applied re Kirby? 🤔
I was only saying that having Lloyd, Blythe and McEwen chatting in background is better than the Wittermouth outpourings.0 -
Beginning to rain now.
Enjoying the Kirby free interlude"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Why have they neutralised the climb? Surely finishing at the top wouldn’t be too bad or is there a dodgy section before that?0
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crash"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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Roglic held up"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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Every roundabout is a diesel skid pan"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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Lol jumbo playing the big boy card"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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Roglic takes a spill, so Jumbo decide to pull a collective Cancellara.
Slow down or we will get very angry."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
So piccolo just needs to finish 6 secs ahead at 9 k to to be in the jersey ...barring time bonus"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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Looks like DSM are being forced to give away their leader’s jersey"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Looks like dsm haven't given upblazing_saddles said:Looks like DSM are being forced to give away their leader’s jersey
"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 -
Crash"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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Buitrago and Storer down and held up with tangled bikes.
Leader crashed too, but of course this time there’s no signal to slow down…."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
This afternoon's offerings currently live...
Deutschland tour good
MTB xco good
Super league triathlon great
Vuelta st 2... Meh.0 -
The peloton seem quite happy to leave the race leader behind after his spill, though.mididoctors said:
Looks like dsm haven't given upblazing_saddles said:Looks like DSM are being forced to give away their leader’s jersey
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
It's a shame ..was a good parcours .."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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Oscar Onley out with suspected broken collarbone 😭0
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Could have put a mark in the road"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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Strange times indeed when a Barcelona Vuelta stage in August is wetter than Glasgow Worlds.0
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Gave up on Kirby. On Sporza.
Seems there is not much colour on race radio so they’re doing their best to ID.0 -
About 20 riders left to contest the win.
Unsurprisingly none of the GC riders"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
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