2016 Vuelta a España Preview
The 71st edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a España is set to start in northwest Spain on August 20th. This years route will suit climbers as ten stages feature uphill finishes.
Last year’s Vuelta was won by Fabio Aru, and this year’s race which features 10 summit finishes is likely to be contested by the likes of Tour winner Chris Froome, alongside three-time Vuelta victor Alberto Contador, and Nairo Quintana. The race starts in Balneario Laias on Saturday August 20 and ends in Madrid on Sunday September 11, covering a total distance of 2,036 miles (3,277 kms).
Other GC contenders to be confirmed on team Rosters are Mikel Landa, Esteban Chaves, Tejay van Garderen, Thibaut Pinot, Steven Kruijswijk and Andrew Talansky. The race is definitely something to look forward to as a road cycling fan.
Philippe Gilbert and Michal Kwiatkowski will be hunting for stage wins.
La Vuelta opens with a team time trial. At 29.4 kilometres, it all starts near Ourense, Galicia, in the northwestern part of Spain, near Portugal. The stage leads around the Castrelo de Miño reservoir and favorites are BMC Racing and Orica-BikeExchange.
Stage 2 leaves from Ourense to head for Baiano. Mostly on flat roads, a small climb with 10 kilometres should not trouble the fast men - a rare opportunity for the Sprinters.
Stage 3 brings the first top finish after a stage from Marín to Mirador de Ézaro. The mountain top finish is a 2 kilometre climb at 14% with the steepest sections of up to 29%. This will suit the puncheurs in the Peloton.
In order to win stage 4, arriving in San André de Teixido (Cedeira), you have to be able to climb, which could suit an early breakway. GC riders will be attentive, looking not to loose any time to any other rivals.
Stage 5 leads from Viveiro to Lugo and brings yet another chance for the sprinters. With the GC contenders looking to cross these middle mountains in stage 6 and stage 7, either of these stages could suit a breakway. Stage 7 has a downhill finish, so expect attacks at the head of the field that day.
Racing the rolling roads of Castilla y León, stage 8 doesn't look anything special until the finish climb to La Camperona – 8.3 kilometres at 7.5% with a steeper section at 24%. Punchers will want to strike the remaining bunch at the base of the ‘Wall of La Camperona’. Could be a epic stage to watch.
Stage 9 to Naranco is one for the climbers, while stage 10 leads to the magnificent Lagos de Covadonga after a 12.2 kilometre final climb at 7.2% with a maximum grade of 17.5% before the finish. This could be a more decisive GC stage. It could also see an early attack from someone looking for a stage win.
The first rest day will bring some relief and recovery!
Stage 11 it is all systems go again with a mountain top finish up at Peña Cabarga (18%) which could see another breakaway or early attack looking for a stage win.
Stage 12 is tailor made for breakaway artists, with excellent descending skills. The race passes through middle mountains with a fast 13 kilometre drop into Bilbao, capital of cycling mad Basque Country.
The next stage takes the riders to Urdax (Navarra), on Stage 13. A sprinter who can climb (puncheur) or an early breakaway could succeed here.
Stage 14 leads to the renowned Col d’Aubisque which will suit the purest of climbers. CG riders again looking to pull out gaps out ahead of rivals.
Stage 15 goes to Formigal/Sarrios, a ski resort near the French border. The closing climb in the Aragonese Pyrenees is familiar from the 2013 Vuelta when a even younger Warren Barguil powered to one out of two victories in the Vuelta. By now, GC contenders will be looking to secure the red leaders jersey on an ongoing basis. This could be a very interesting day's racing.
After two flat stages in the first week, stage 16 brings another rare opportunity for the Sprinters, and the same goes for stage 18.
In between is the harsh mountain stage 17, leading to a 4 kilometre mountain top climb finish with brutal grades fluctuating anywhere between 15% and 22%. This is another key stage for GC contenders.
Stage 19 brings a flat individual time trial to Calpe. GC contenders will be looking at setting a good time, either retaining or moving up, on the GC ranking.
Stage 20 is marked by a 22.3 kilometres mountain top fionish at 5.5%, the last of the 2016 Vuelta a España in the Sierra de Aitana.
The closing stage leads from Las Rozas de Madrid, to Madrid. These places are 20 kilometres apart and its a relatively short stage. With the GC already decided the stage gives the survivig Sprinters the last chance for a stage win.
So all in all the riders face ten mountain top finishes, a team time trial and an individual time trial.
The 2016 Vuelta suits an all round rider with a team who can look after him, who can time trial and finish consistently in ten mountain top finishes.GC riders will probably have to attack to open up time gaps over their rivals.
It makes for 3 weeks of very tough and strategic indvidual and team racing. Stay tuned on Gran Fondo Guide as we provide daily coverage of this year's Vuelta for Pro Cycling fans.
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Link to Confirmed Start List for the 2016 Vuelta Espana
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2016 Vuelta a Espana Stages
Date | Stage | Route | Type | Distance |
Saturday August 20th | stage 1 | Balneario Laias - Castrelo de Miño (Ourense) | TTT | 29.4 kms |
Sunday August 21st | stage 2 | Ourense - Baiona | Flat | 159 kms |
Monday August 22nd | stage 3 | Marín (Pontevedra) - Mirador Ézaro | Hilly, summit finish 1 | 170 kms |
Tuesday August 23rd | stage 4 | Betanzos - San André de Teixidó | Hilly, summit finish 2 | 161 kms |
Wednesday August 24th | stage 5 | Viveiro - Lugo | Flat | 170 kms |
Thursday August 25th | stage 6 | Monforte de Lemos - Luintra | Hilly | 163 kms |
Friday August 26th | stage 7 | Maceda - Puebla de Sanabria | Hilly | 158.3 kms |
Saturday August 27th | stage 8 | Villalpando (Zamora) - La Camperona | Mountainous, summit finish 3 | 177 kms |
Sunday August 28th | stage 9 | Cistierna - Alto de Naranco | Summit finish 4 | 165kms |
Monday August 29th | stage 10 | Lugones - Lagos de Covadonga | Mountainous, summit finish 5 | 186.6kms |
Tuesday August 30th | Rest Day 1 | Rest Day 1 | ||
Wednesday August 31st | stage 11 | Colunga - Peña Cabarga | Summit finish 6 | 168.6kms |
Thursday September 1st | stage 12 | Los Corrales de Buelna - Bilbao | Hilly | 193.2kms |
Friday September 2nd | stage 13 | Bilbao - Urdax | Hilly | 212.8kms |
Saturday September 3rd | stage 14 | Urdax - Aubisque | Mountainous, summit finish 7 | 195.6kms |
Sunday September 4th | stage 15 | Sabiñanigo - Formigal | Mountainous, summit finish 8 | 120kms |
Monday September 5th | stage 16 | Alcañiz - Peníscola | Flat | 158kms |
Tuesday September 6th | Rest Day 2 | Rest Day 2 | ||
Wednesday September 7th | stage 17 | Castellón - Mas de la Costa | Hilly, summit finish 9 | 173.3kms |
Thursday September 8th | stage 18 | Requena - Gandía | Hilly | 191kms |
Friday September 9th | stage 19 | Xàbia - Calpe | ITT | 39kms |
Saturday September 10th | stage 20 | Benidorm - Alto de Aitana | Mountainous, summit finish 10 | 184.5kms |
Sunday September 11th | stage 21 | Las Rozas - Madrid | Flat | 102.5kms |