Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 13

David Etxebarria:

My favorite for today is Rein Taaramae, but it’s also a good day for Pablo Lastras. It’s a short and nervous stage and it’s going to be difficult for the leader’s team to control the pack. Attention to the time limit as well, a lot of riders will have a hard day!

Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 12

David Etxebarria:

Even though the terrain looks flat, there is no such thing in Galicia! I don’t believe that any of the sprinter teams can control it this terrain and therefore I think a breakaway will make it again. Meaning we are back to the usual suspects in Luisle [Sanchez], Lastras, De la Fuente etc. My pick for the stage win will be Luis Angel Maté.

Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 11

David Etxebarria:

The rest day is over and the Vuelta is back. My favorite for today is Jaoaquim Rodriguez who needs to win back time NOW. He knows that the last climb won’t give much, so he needs to attack right from the bottom and take some risks. Euskaltel is another team who has changed their objectives and Katusha can benefit from that if the make an alliance again.

Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 10

David Etxebarria:

I see two big favorites today. Bradley Wiggins because of his recent performances and of course Fabian Cancellara. Cancellara is the specialist and he has been thinking about this time trial the whole week. It’s also a very important day for all the climbers in this Vuelta. We will see who manage to minimize the loss the best and who need to take risks later on.

Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 9

David Etxebarria:

It’s a very important day for the favorites today and my pick is Michele Scarponi. Another good one is Igor Antón who has the advantage that he has already lost some time in GC. Therefore the favorites won’t follow him if they are all together and Igor attacks on Covatilla. If Menchov loses time again his Vuelta is over.

UPDATE - Bestial - best word describing the finish of Vuelta stage 8 to El Escorial

Since today is the day the Vuelta peloton visits El Escorial I just want to re-post my lille preview from a couple of weeks ago. Here you go:
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So…after postponing it way too long, finally I got the time to go and check out the last part of Vuelta stage 8 to El Escorial. Ouch…

Here is how it's going down - or more precisely - up:

Entering San Lorenzo we have a the stage’s last intermediate sprint and after that it starts going uphill right away. 4,5 km with some of the steepest part right away in the town before hitting Pista Forestal.

Easy-piecy climb around 4% with only one really steep corner close to the top. Biggest challenge was the road. As the picture shows “en mal estado”. Meaning they are working hard, as I’m writing, to put on new asphalt.

While the uphill section was almost done, the downhill part still needed a lot of work…The picture below pretty much sums up the current state of the road!

This wasn't even the worst part...

Anyway. It’s a pretty fast descent without any complication, only the very last part in the forest needs a few technical skills. After that it’s the M-600 freeway back to El Escorial, turning right going under the railroad and then we hit the final 2 km. City cobblestone section for around 1 km going uphill (taking out a lot of energy, bumping around on those!). Then we take a right turn and hit the first of  many steep parts in the final. After it’s flat for about 100 meters before you turn left on Calle Cañada Nueva with the finishing line in sight – high above your head! I didn't believe my eyes are first...

700 meters straight up in the sky with percentages going as high as 28% - if not more! As you all know it’s almost impossible to capture the view on a camera, especially on an iPhone, but just to give you an impression of what I’m talking about, take a look at the pictures below:

Arrows on the road practically point up in the sky...

Last part of the finish, hitting 28%! Ouch!

I can say without any doubts that this is by far the steepest I've ever done on a bike and I honestly can't see any other than Purito winning this stage if the it’s together in the final.

Get ready for a spectacular final on the 27th of August!

Vuelta Expert Preview: Stage 8

David Etxebarria:

Well, finally I’m starting to hit my picks! Tomorrow is a day for a break away and I will give it a 90% chance of staying away. My favorite is David De la Fuente, but I have seen what Lastras is capable of, so count him in as well. Also Oroz and Txurruka from Euskaltel. There are so many candidates it’s difficult to pick one…

NB - Don't forget to see my own preview of today's stage to El Escorial right here