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La Vuelta a Espana: Stage 17 preview

Joaquim Rodriguez looks primed to take the red leader's jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Roar Guru
8th September, 2015
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After overcoming the high altitude mountain challenges of the past week, and recovering on yesterdays second rest day, the all important Stage 17 individual time trial will most probably be the last chance for general classification men.

With only hilly stages to come, the main contenders will be wanting to maximise their performance today.

This time trial is fairly simple. Overall, 38 kilometres of flat roads separate the riders from potential glory, or failure. The distance may lead to a few of the riders losing what they may have achieved in the previous stages, they may even have to watch out for other riders’ responses following the rest day.

Many of the general classification riders at this year’s race are not top time trial specialists (the only one being Tom Dumoulin) so expect some interesting results today. However, after two weeks of difficult racing, it may not be ones time trial ability that comes to the for, but what they have left in the tank to give.

While todays course is flat, it is also insanely technical, so the top riders will need to balance risk and reward when tackling the stage.

Out of the general classification favourites, expect both Esteban Chaves, Daniel Moreno and Mikel Nieve to really struggle. However both Rodriguez and Aru could fall into this category as well, as they only really perform well in hilly time trials.

Tom Dumoulin is still back in fourth place, but he could still feature in the race for the red jersey.

Today for me will be about Joaquim Rodríguez. He lost the Giro in 2012 on the final day time trial. He could potentially lose this year’s Vuelta with a poor performance here today. The pressure will be on him, with him holding only a one second lead to Aru, who is looking for his maiden Grand Tour win.

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Other riders to look out for include Vasil Kiriyenka, Geriant Thomas, Dario Cataldo, Luis Leon Sanchez, Jerome Coppel, Nelson Oliveria, Damien Howson, Cameron Meyer and Marcej Bodnar.

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