La Vuelta 2023: Stage 12:- Ólvega - Zaragoza, 151km ***Spoilers***
blazing_saddles
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Stage 12:- Ólvega - Zaragoza, 151km
September 7
Start Time: 13-00BST.
There are no classified mountain climbs on this Stage 12, something that is rare in La Vuelta. After a long, gradual descent, there is a long, gradual uphill section of 36km to through the Aragon region, setting up the prolonged downhill of 50km to the finish. In fact, there is more descending than the 888 metres of climbing en route to Zaragoza, which has not seen the Vuelta for 15 years.
The last 35 kilometres of the 12th stage are pan-flat, so a bunch sprint is next to certain.
The route sets off on a descent. The riders move through Tarazona after 25 flying kilometres to tackle the "steepest climb" of the day. After a long, gradual descent, there is a long, gradual uphill section of 36km to through the Aragon region, before the the prolonged downhill. Zaragoza is far from a staple destination of La Vuelta. In fact, it was in 2008 that Sébastien Hinault sprinted to victory in the fifth largest city of Spain.
Final Kms.
There is a technical turn, between kilometres 3 and 4, but other than that, the route appears to be straightforward. But remember: this is the Vuelta.
What to Expect.
Organisers warn that winds could play a factor in the development of echelons on this stage, so riders will need to be wary. Other than that, a low key breakaway will be held very close by the peloton. A bunch sprint is odds on.
Ólvega
Unprecedented La Vuelta stage departure
3,668 inhabitants.
Located on the Western slope of the Moncayo Peak, and providing a natural barrier between Castilla y León and Aragón, Ólvega is a municipality located in the province of Soria. The ancient Petra Mine was flooded and went on to become a lagoon that gets its characteristic colour from the area’s minerals. Nowadays, it is the ideal place to enjoy a pleasant walk from Ólvega.
Zaragoza
48 La Vuelta finishes
675,301 inhabitants
Zaragoza is the capital of northeastern Spain's Aragon region. Overlooking the Ebro River in the city center is baroque Nuestra Señora del Pilar basilica, a famous pilgrimage site with a shrine to the Virgin Mary and multiple domes. The Basilica of El Pilar is, without a doubt, Zaragoza’s sign of identity. The temple presides the Plaza del Pilar, one of the largest pedestrian plazas in all of Europe, and serves as an entrance to the city’s maze of alleyways and plazas that form its historical centre. Touches by one of Aragón’s most universally-renowned artists, Francisco de Goya, can be seen scattered throughout the capital’s streets, particularly in the Goya Museum. Mudéjar-style landmarks, combining Islamic and Gothic architecture, include the Aljafería, an 11th-century Moorish palace, and the Cathedral of the Savior, begun in the 12th century.
Bocadillos
Bocadillos or bocatas are Spanish sandwiches made with Spanish-style baguettes known as barra de pan, unlike regular sandwiches which are made with modern white bread, known as pan de molde in Spain. The most common fillings for bocadillos include meat, cheese, tuna, omelets, jamón, or chorizo sausages.
Escabeche
Escabeche is an internationally popular dish consisting of fried or poached meat or fish and various vegetables, served together in a flavorful vinegar sauce filled with herbs, spices, and onions. The Spaniards brought escabeche to Guam, where it is mostly prepared only with fish and called eskabeche.
Migas
Migas is a traditional, ancient dish in Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. At its base, it is made from softened bread cooked in fat. Its name, migas, is literally translated to crumbs, referring to its key ingredient - breadcrumbs.
In Spain, the ingredients vary from region to region. Generally, the dish consists of water-soaked bread, garlic, paprika, and olive oil. Regional varieties include ingredients such as spinach, chorizo, and bacon.
September 7
Start Time: 13-00BST.
There are no classified mountain climbs on this Stage 12, something that is rare in La Vuelta. After a long, gradual descent, there is a long, gradual uphill section of 36km to through the Aragon region, setting up the prolonged downhill of 50km to the finish. In fact, there is more descending than the 888 metres of climbing en route to Zaragoza, which has not seen the Vuelta for 15 years.
The last 35 kilometres of the 12th stage are pan-flat, so a bunch sprint is next to certain.
The route sets off on a descent. The riders move through Tarazona after 25 flying kilometres to tackle the "steepest climb" of the day. After a long, gradual descent, there is a long, gradual uphill section of 36km to through the Aragon region, before the the prolonged downhill. Zaragoza is far from a staple destination of La Vuelta. In fact, it was in 2008 that Sébastien Hinault sprinted to victory in the fifth largest city of Spain.
Final Kms.
There is a technical turn, between kilometres 3 and 4, but other than that, the route appears to be straightforward. But remember: this is the Vuelta.
What to Expect.
Organisers warn that winds could play a factor in the development of echelons on this stage, so riders will need to be wary. Other than that, a low key breakaway will be held very close by the peloton. A bunch sprint is odds on.
Ólvega
Unprecedented La Vuelta stage departure
3,668 inhabitants.
Located on the Western slope of the Moncayo Peak, and providing a natural barrier between Castilla y León and Aragón, Ólvega is a municipality located in the province of Soria. The ancient Petra Mine was flooded and went on to become a lagoon that gets its characteristic colour from the area’s minerals. Nowadays, it is the ideal place to enjoy a pleasant walk from Ólvega.
Zaragoza
48 La Vuelta finishes
675,301 inhabitants
Zaragoza is the capital of northeastern Spain's Aragon region. Overlooking the Ebro River in the city center is baroque Nuestra Señora del Pilar basilica, a famous pilgrimage site with a shrine to the Virgin Mary and multiple domes. The Basilica of El Pilar is, without a doubt, Zaragoza’s sign of identity. The temple presides the Plaza del Pilar, one of the largest pedestrian plazas in all of Europe, and serves as an entrance to the city’s maze of alleyways and plazas that form its historical centre. Touches by one of Aragón’s most universally-renowned artists, Francisco de Goya, can be seen scattered throughout the capital’s streets, particularly in the Goya Museum. Mudéjar-style landmarks, combining Islamic and Gothic architecture, include the Aljafería, an 11th-century Moorish palace, and the Cathedral of the Savior, begun in the 12th century.
Bocadillos
Bocadillos or bocatas are Spanish sandwiches made with Spanish-style baguettes known as barra de pan, unlike regular sandwiches which are made with modern white bread, known as pan de molde in Spain. The most common fillings for bocadillos include meat, cheese, tuna, omelets, jamón, or chorizo sausages.
Escabeche
Escabeche is an internationally popular dish consisting of fried or poached meat or fish and various vegetables, served together in a flavorful vinegar sauce filled with herbs, spices, and onions. The Spaniards brought escabeche to Guam, where it is mostly prepared only with fish and called eskabeche.
Migas
Migas is a traditional, ancient dish in Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. At its base, it is made from softened bread cooked in fat. Its name, migas, is literally translated to crumbs, referring to its key ingredient - breadcrumbs.
In Spain, the ingredients vary from region to region. Generally, the dish consists of water-soaked bread, garlic, paprika, and olive oil. Regional varieties include ingredients such as spinach, chorizo, and bacon.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
5
Comments
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Please tell me there’s a chance of some crosswinds0
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0
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But forecast is for wind from SE, so that's a lot of headwind before the sprint.0
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The last turn after the sprint offers the most favourable direction for a South Easterly crosswind.
Almost all the route is cross-head."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
If the wind is actually blowing, the bit around Tauste is wide open with no trees for miles, and quite a narrow road after Tauste so it might make it nervy, but I can't see it sticking.0
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It looks possible, gust up to around 30km/h in that area around race time. Fingers crossed.0
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First stage I've been able to watch live this year
Might watch the 15min highlights in the morning instead.Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
For most stages so far I'm tempted to ask what they do to pad it out?prawny said:First stage I've been able to watch live this year
Might watch the 15min highlights in the morning instead.0 -
It's a weird race, it feels like JV have 3 riders and simply need to decide which they want to win and yet Remco is still ahead of their two leaders. I guess that's down to the TT having been and gone whilst there hasn't been much in the way of big climbs yet.0
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It’s certainly exposed along much of the route but unfortunately there’s not enough puff to make things happen.
Still, plenty of climbs over the next couple of days."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
mañana my friends0
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Have I missed anything? I'm guessing not judging by the number of posts? Will it be finished before 5? I'm behind on the MTB coverage too so might watch that instead
Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
There's definitely a bit of crosswind here0
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Roglic trying to repeat getting taken out by swinging across in front of a QS rider.
Not exactly worth the 2 seconds gain if that had happened."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I'm going to need my eardrums repaired after listening to the commentary on that run in. It was like listening to a horse race commentator on speed.0
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Alpecin’s slow motion lead out unsurprisingly got swamped.
Groves dropped a gear and still finished second.
Molano well clear of everyone."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Looked like Groves got himself boxed in there at the crucial moment0
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Highlight of the day is Sean Kelly trying to say Oliveira.2
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I bailed out after the sprint and came back for the last 3k.Pross said:I'm going to need my eardrums repaired after listening to the commentary on that run in. It was like listening to a horse race commentator on speed.
Same reason. Headache avoidance.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Competing with the ToB for the least boring stage and managing to lose is an achievement.0
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Well done UAE"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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Not sure the Eurosport bleep machine operator is quite on the ball
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kingstongraham said:
Highlight of the day is Sean Kelly trying to say Oliveira.
https://youtu.be/tNimcggxmyA?si=jlljQXf7fmvDV8n_ 1 -
No Blythe today?0
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My brain mouth coordination usually suffers a similar malfunction after spending 3 hours listening to Kirby.kingstongraham said:kingstongraham said:Highlight of the day is Sean Kelly trying to say Oliveira.
https://youtu.be/tNimcggxmyA?si=jlljQXf7fmvDV8n_"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.2
