La Vuelta 2024:- Stage 21: Distrito Telefónica – Madrid, 24.6km ITT ***Spoilers***

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
in Pro race

Stage 21: Distrito Telefónica – Madrid, 24.6km ITT

Sunday 8th September

Start Time: First rider 15-20BST, Last rider 18-00BST. (approx)

The final stage of the Vuelta a España is an ITT in front of roaring city crowds. Not the tried-and-tested finishing circuit in Madrid, but a chronorace of 24.6 kilometres in the centre of Spain. It's almost 25 km without any significant technical difficulties that will allow the specialists to test their all-rounder capabilities. If the general classification remains close at this point, these final 22 km will be full of excitement up until the very end.

Profile.

stage-21-vuelta-24[1].jpg

Map.

stage-21-route[1].jpg

Final Kilometres.

stage-21-route-finale[1].jpg
stage-21-profile-finale[1].jpg

What to Expect.

Probably some changes in the top 10, but much will depend on the gaps achieved in the first 20 stages.

Madrid

Madrid has already hosted 77 La Vuelta finish-lines.

3,280,782 inhabitants

Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry. Madrid’s ‘Landscape of Light’ will reveal the final stage winner of the edition and will serve to crown the winners of the race’s general classifications. As a new feature in 2024, besides having an individual time trial as the final stage, the finish-line will be located on the Gran Vía in front of the Edificio Telefónica, to celebrate 100 years since its foundation.

Torrijas

Torrijas is a Spanish version of the classic French toast, consisting of slices of leftover bread that are first soaked in milk, dipped in beaten eggs, and then fried in hot olive oil, unlike French toast, which is dipped in a mixture of eggs and milk. In the past, torrijas was often served to new mothers and wounded soldiers, since it provides a significant boost of energy.

ed73c92b26024b1a8f94536031e014cb[1].jpg

Huevos rotos

The simple and inexpensive huevos rotos (lit. broken eggs, also known as huevos estrellados) is a Spanish dish that is a specialty of Madrid. It consists of eggs fried in olive oil, which are then placed over french fries. The dish is traditionally topped with chorizo pieces, seafood, or slices of Iberian ham. The eggs should be cut so that the yolk drizzles down over the french fries, which are used to soak up the yolk.

3b4202955a2042a6b09909bd8220081c[1].jpg


"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

Comments

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    TdG last pro ride ?.

    "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 pm
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    It was a shame he couldn't find a stage

    "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 pm
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095431#Comment_21095431

    Gesink's too, I believe.

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095440#Comment_21095440

    Been around for a billion years

    "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 pm
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553

    Luis Angel Mate's final race too, I think.

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908

    Well done kung .... O'Connor defense was impressive

    "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 pm
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,164
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095451#Comment_21095451

    O'connor was pretty decent in the Giro TTs, so form would say he should have done that today. Impressive to hold onto his second place over the last week. He's a battler. Mas 4th time on the podium, behind three different winners.

    Roglic different level.

  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,927

    Roglic got away with it, but I think we can conclude everyone else giving O'Connor that much time was foolish.

  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655
    edited September 8

    Skjelmose Update!

    8th on the stage, 2nd fastest of the GC, 31" down on Roglic. Great ride. Absolutely smoked Gaudu to move up to 5th overall, to go with the white jersey. Great Vuelta from him after a slightly shaky start ☺️ He's really come a long way this season.

    Thanks for bearing with me in my moments of excitement for a local lad 😉

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,655

    Doesn't my boy look happy! 😁

    https://x.com/lavuelta/status/1832853231833137527


    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • wakemalcolm
    wakemalcolm Posts: 911

    I know you won't be completely up to speed with the BBC but 2 of their employees to recently use the phrase 'my boy' have ended up with the wrong kind of notoriety.....and no career.

    ================================
    Cake is just weakness entering the body
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095465#Comment_21095465

    By accident or design did decathlon carrying the jersey for 13 days help Roglic out ?

    "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 pm
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,341
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095512#Comment_21095512

    Accidentally helped.

    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.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,927
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21095512#Comment_21095512

    With hindsight Roglic would have won whatever happened (unless Almeida did something special). I think having to chase O'Connor was more hassle than any benefits of having decathlon ride on the front.

  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,164

    Roglic was just the best rider left - it might have been more straightforward without a random factor up the road, and he could have just Roglic'ed it a bit more each day. It made it more fun for the rest of us, and meant we got to see him actually riding.

    O'Connor now has a stage win in all the GTs, and a top 5 finish on GC in all three. For someone who can't keep up when it gets really steep, that's a pretty great set of results.

Categories