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It’s set up to be a massive day in the mountains on Stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana with plenty of potential general classification ramifications on the 196.1 kilometre trek from Urdax-Dantxarinea to Aubisque-Gourette. Join The Roar for live coverage from 10pm (AEST).
The Vuelta is a brute of a grand tour, and the last week that we kick-off tonight is absolutely no different.
Four climbs greet the riders on a long day as it is, with three being Category 1 and the final being an ‘outside categorisation’ climb.
All in all, the peloton will spend 61.2 of the 196.1 kilometres going uphill, and as always in Spain there are some very tough gradients to deal with. Interestingly enough though, these climbs are more consistent than what we have seen so far during the race.
The first 50 kilometres are actually flat on the day, and with the amount of climbing to come you can expect a breakaway to form with a lot of passengers from the contenders teams, and the peloton riding at a snails pace.
The first climb of the day, the Col Inharpu is more of a warm up before the 24-kilometre climb of Col du Soudet is summited with 85km to go.
Following a long descent and some valley roads, the final procession of climbs will begin. Neither are easy, with the Col de Marie-Blanque coming in with the numbers of 9.2 kilometres at 7.5 per cent and being summited just 39 kilometres from the line.
Another descent follows before the final climb to Abisque – outside categorisation and 16.5 kilometres at 7.1 per cent. While it is fairly consistent, it does start relatively slow.
There are ramps of over 12 per cent, while the final four kilometres average out at closer to 8.5, meaning attacks are likely to come late and it may not be a big day for time gains – unless a rider goes early on the climb or indeed on the Marie-Blanque.
Prediction
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Chris Froome (Sky) have, over the first 13 days established themselves as the two best climbers but this is going to be a real test of the team support and legs of the leader at the back end of what is expected to be another long, hot day in the saddle.
The climb to the finish line at Abisque is going to suit Froome, but attacks will come and I expect Esteban Chavez and Alberto Contador to be among the big movers on the day.
However, the stage win has breakaway written all over it.
Back in the pack, there probably won’t be big changes in general classification unless one of the contenders blow up. Quintana to hold red, finishing on the tail of Froome with Contador and Chavez there and about, one of them potentially ahead.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 14 from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde