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Stage 14 of this year’s Vuelta a Espana sees the first of three consecutive mountain stages that should go a long way to deciding this year’s race. Join The Roar from an earlier time than usual of 11:00pm (AEST) for all the live updates from the race.
Looking back to Stage 13 and it was the rider from Cofidis, Danield Navarro Garcia that managed to accelerate away up the 850 meter ramp a kilometre out from the line and win the stage. Despite numerous attacks out of the peloton, no significant advantage was gained as Daniel Moreno (Katusha) and Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) rounded out the top 3.
Stage 14 should be very different though as the climbing hits a new level. The 200.8 km stage from Santander to La Camperona. Valle de Sabero features 3 categorised climbs and a summit finish that will most certainly test the riders legs out, and by the time stage 14 is over we should have a much clearer picture of who is going to take out this year’s Vuelta.
Looking at the route, the first 70km are relatively flat, if a little bit rolling with the first intermediate sprint of the day coming after 35.7 km. Once the first 70km are over the riders will hit the first categorised climb of the day up to Collada De La Hoz. The category 2 climb should ease the riders into the day as they ride uphill for about 7 km. After this they descend for about 10 km and almost immediately begin the very gentle but long ascent of the Puerto de San Glorio. The category 1 climb goes on for about 30km and while there are some steep sections, most of it is less than a 6% gradient.
After the second climb on route the riders take on a very short descent before they hit the second intermediate sprint after 160km, which is then followed by about 30km of flat before the final climb to the summit finish at La Camperona. Valle de Sabero. The final climb is absolutely brutal. The climb is 8.3 km long and has an average gradient for 7.5%, however don’t read into that.
The first couple of kilometres of the climb barely get above a 4% gradient. Once about half the climb is complete the riders begin to experience gradients of 7-8 % before it backs down again. Then in the last 2 km it ramps to a gradient of 19.5%. It will be a true climber that takes out the stage today, no doubt about it and time bonuses could come into play in a big way.
I can’t see a breakaway staying away on this stage. What is foreseeable is that Katusha are going to hit the front and work hard for Joaquim Rodriguez. If he could have designed a summit finish this would be what he would have made, so expect to see him fight for the win and the time bonus on the finish line. Expect him to battle off against Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who is very good on these types of climbs with explosive gradients over a short period of time like the last 2 km of this stage.
Alberto Contador (Saxo) will be looking to defend and if he can add to his lead on the red jersey as it has become evident he is not struggling with injury. Riders like Rigoberto Uran (Omega) and Chris Froome (Sky) also need a very good day in the saddle to try and move up the General Classification. These riders wont’t be able to just lay everything out on the table either as this is the first of 3 consecutive summit finishes.
My tip is Joaquim Rodriguez, but either way it should be a great stage. Catch all the action here on the roar from 11pm (AEST).