La Vuelta 2023: Stage 5:- Morella to Burriana, 186.2km ***Spoilers***
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,726
Stage 5:- Morella to Burriana, 186.2km
August 30
Start Time: 11-50BST.
The fifth stage of the Vuelta a España offers the sprinters another "possible" shot at a stage win in Burriana, despite the elevation gain is almost 2,400 metres. However, will anyone fancy pulling the bunch over such lumpy terrain? The 186.2km race begins in Morella, and the peloton will have to go over climbs at Ares del Maestra, Culla, before heading down into the valley over smaller climbs through Les Useres, L'Alcaora and Onda.
There is only one categorised ascent throughout the stage at Collado de la Ibola that peaks at the 132.5km mark.
Morella is a beautiful historic hilltop town in Castellón, a northern province of the Valencia region. It’s situated at almost 1,000 metres above sea level. The route traverses the remote Maestrazgo region. Flat sections are hard to find and the race heads directly South. Burriana is in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, which is the direction the route follows for approximately the final 30 Kms.
The Climb.
The Ibola climb is crested with over 50 kilometres remaining.
Final Kms.
The last 14 kilometres are played out on the flat, with the only real obstacle being the usual, and in this instant, abundant street furniture.
What to Expect.
After what has happened so far, I would say another calamity towards the end of the stage. While similar in profile to today's stage, it's significantly harder. So, if Alpecin don't fancy it, this stage is a golden opportunity for attacking riders to get into, what should be, a successful breakaway.
Morella
Unprecedented departure
2,406 inhabitants.
Morella (Valencian is an ancient walled city located on a hill-top in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. The town is the capital and administrative centre of the comarca of Els Ports, in the historic Maestrat (Maestrazgo) region.
In a sea of mountains, an impressive castle stands out, crowning the hill that overlooks Morella – its strategic position serving many different civilisations. Its centenary walls, doorways and towers all possess a captivating beauty that has led Morella to become a part of The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association.
Every six years the citizens celebrate the Sexenni, a commemoration of the town's recovery from the plague in the seventeenth century. Tourism now plays an important part in the local economy, along with agriculture.
Artizan food in Morella
The walled hilltop town of Morella is a mecca for foodies. Every other shop seems to be selling dried sausages, pastries or local cheese. such as nuts soaked in golden honey, artisan chorizo sausages and cheese studded with truffles that are found in the area.
Burriana
Burriana has hosted 2 La Vuelta finish-lines
34,903 inhabitants.
Burriana is a municipality in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, part of the Valencian Community. Its population exceeds 34,000.
The town is located by the Mediterranean Sea, at the lowest region of the Plana Baixa, surrounded by orange tree fields watered by the Millars River.
Burriana will host a La Vuelta finish-line 33 years after hosting a team time trial finish-line back in 1990. Located a few kilometres from Castellón de la Plana, this locality’s most characteristic elements are oranges, its cultivation being its main economic driver.
The oranges of Castellón
The coastal plain of Castellón has a warm, temperate climate that’s ideal for growing oranges and if you’d eaten one in Europe in the 1920s and 30s, chances are it would have come from Castellón. The farmers of this region grew rich on their monopoly of the orange production, until refrigeration and improved transport enabled oranges from other parts of the world to undercut the orange prices and production declined.
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Olla de la Plana
Olla de la Plana, a staple up and down the province. The recipe for olla de la Plana calls for white beans, cabbage, potatoes, onions, turnips, green beans, swiss chard, saffron and sweet paprika. Every household has their own specific way of cooking the dish, but what they all agree on is that it needs to be cooked for hours over a low heat and prepared with lots of love.
August 30
Start Time: 11-50BST.
The fifth stage of the Vuelta a España offers the sprinters another "possible" shot at a stage win in Burriana, despite the elevation gain is almost 2,400 metres. However, will anyone fancy pulling the bunch over such lumpy terrain? The 186.2km race begins in Morella, and the peloton will have to go over climbs at Ares del Maestra, Culla, before heading down into the valley over smaller climbs through Les Useres, L'Alcaora and Onda.
There is only one categorised ascent throughout the stage at Collado de la Ibola that peaks at the 132.5km mark.
Morella is a beautiful historic hilltop town in Castellón, a northern province of the Valencia region. It’s situated at almost 1,000 metres above sea level. The route traverses the remote Maestrazgo region. Flat sections are hard to find and the race heads directly South. Burriana is in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, which is the direction the route follows for approximately the final 30 Kms.
The Climb.
The Ibola climb is crested with over 50 kilometres remaining.
Final Kms.
The last 14 kilometres are played out on the flat, with the only real obstacle being the usual, and in this instant, abundant street furniture.
What to Expect.
After what has happened so far, I would say another calamity towards the end of the stage. While similar in profile to today's stage, it's significantly harder. So, if Alpecin don't fancy it, this stage is a golden opportunity for attacking riders to get into, what should be, a successful breakaway.
Morella
Unprecedented departure
2,406 inhabitants.
Morella (Valencian is an ancient walled city located on a hill-top in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. The town is the capital and administrative centre of the comarca of Els Ports, in the historic Maestrat (Maestrazgo) region.
In a sea of mountains, an impressive castle stands out, crowning the hill that overlooks Morella – its strategic position serving many different civilisations. Its centenary walls, doorways and towers all possess a captivating beauty that has led Morella to become a part of The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association.
Every six years the citizens celebrate the Sexenni, a commemoration of the town's recovery from the plague in the seventeenth century. Tourism now plays an important part in the local economy, along with agriculture.
Artizan food in Morella
The walled hilltop town of Morella is a mecca for foodies. Every other shop seems to be selling dried sausages, pastries or local cheese. such as nuts soaked in golden honey, artisan chorizo sausages and cheese studded with truffles that are found in the area.
Burriana
Burriana has hosted 2 La Vuelta finish-lines
34,903 inhabitants.
Burriana is a municipality in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón, part of the Valencian Community. Its population exceeds 34,000.
The town is located by the Mediterranean Sea, at the lowest region of the Plana Baixa, surrounded by orange tree fields watered by the Millars River.
Burriana will host a La Vuelta finish-line 33 years after hosting a team time trial finish-line back in 1990. Located a few kilometres from Castellón de la Plana, this locality’s most characteristic elements are oranges, its cultivation being its main economic driver.
The oranges of Castellón
The coastal plain of Castellón has a warm, temperate climate that’s ideal for growing oranges and if you’d eaten one in Europe in the 1920s and 30s, chances are it would have come from Castellón. The farmers of this region grew rich on their monopoly of the orange production, until refrigeration and improved transport enabled oranges from other parts of the world to undercut the orange prices and production declined.
Olla de la Plana
Olla de la Plana, a staple up and down the province. The recipe for olla de la Plana calls for white beans, cabbage, potatoes, onions, turnips, green beans, swiss chard, saffron and sweet paprika. Every household has their own specific way of cooking the dish, but what they all agree on is that it needs to be cooked for hours over a low heat and prepared with lots of love.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
5
Comments
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Goossens, Guerreiro and Coquard all DNS.
Another piece of medical news that seems to have passed up by: Wilco Kelderman was also injured in that crash and had to go to hospital for treatment. He finished more than three minutes down and lost his place at the top of the general classification."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
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That's likely to cause Kirby to have kittens.2
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Eddie Dunbar don’t need no stinking roundabouts.
He’s already crashed again.
A break of exactly one rider atm. Has about a minute"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
He's taken out over 4 minutes in less than 10 miles (according to PCS). Setting himself up for a long day out. #prayforeric================================
Cake is just weakness entering the body0 -
Dunbar has abandoned the race per the team's Twitterblazing_saddles said:Eddie Dunbar don’t need no stinking roundabouts.
He’s already crashed again.
A break of exactly one rider atm. Has about a minute0 -
Any sign of peeled banana skins on the course, or other obstacles, threatening to continue the trend of something going wrong every stage?
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2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0 -
What's up with Caja Rural today? Didn't fancy it?0
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Kirby arrives and immediately trolls everybody with. “Hopefully there won’t be any crashes today…”"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.1
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Jayco-Alula having a nightmare day, Zana has now abandoned due to stomach issues.0
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Pretty climb, they've stolen the Lacets.0
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Nice scenery in parts"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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Jeez
Forget the race, just try and outdo each other with roundabout numbers."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
6 secs for that?"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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Crash at 3k ?"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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Just outside the 3km mark."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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In fairness that was an excellent road to finish on."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Well I never ganna?"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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Ganna second"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Ganna should do more of that in this race.
Groves takes the win.0 -
No groves"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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Groves getting armchair lead outs.
Not many of the sprinters left to contest"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I think they were there, except Menten and Coquard, but they're not very good.blazing_saddles said:Groves getting armchair lead outs.
Not many of the sprinters left to contest0 -
Robbie (I think it was) suggested Ganna as an outside bet yesterday. He subsequently ended up towing the bunch for several km into the 'safety' of the 3km banner which felt stupid as he looks like Ineos' best bet to get something out of the race.0
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Hofsetter and Molano were also absent.kingstongraham said:
I think they were there, except Menten and Coquard, but they're not very good.blazing_saddles said:Groves getting armchair lead outs.
Not many of the sprinters left to contest
Just noticed that Romain Bardet lost 5 and a half minutes. Must have been involved in the crash.
Hope he’s ok to continue."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.2 -
True, once molano is missing, a weak field becomes considerably weaker.0
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According to Bardet's Strava, he had a blowout in the final 5 kms after hitting a hole in the road at 70kph. The accompanying picture suggests that he didn't fall.blazing_saddles said:
Hofsetter and Molano were also absent.kingstongraham said:
I think they were there, except Menten and Coquard, but they're not very good.blazing_saddles said:Groves getting armchair lead outs.
Not many of the sprinters left to contest
Just noticed that Romain Bardet lost 5 and a half minutes. Must have been involved in the crash.
Hope he’s ok to continue.0
