Vuelta 2018 Stage 9:Talavera to La Covatilla 200.8 km

Inquitus

The weekend concludes with the first big GC test - whole stage live on TV too!

Vuelta 2018 Stage 9: Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla 200.8 km Start 12.06 CET

Running from Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla, the 9th stage of the Vuelta a España amounts to 200.8 kilometres. Two intermediate climbs and the last 24 kilometres run almost entirely uphill, while the last 7.9 kilometres to the line are averaging 8.5%.
Following a rolling section of 35 kilometres the riders arrive at the base of the Puerto del Pico, a 15.3 kilometres climb at 5.6%. A short descent before the route continues uphill, albeit gently. A new rolling section leads to the base of the Puerto de Peña Negra, which is a 13 kilometres climb at 4.5%.
Almost halfway, time for a breather. The riders fly down the mountain for 15 kilometres and ride the plains south of Salamanca for tens of kilometres. So hardly any obstacles until the riders hit the last climb, up to La Covatilla.
The final climb is made up of two parts. With 24 kilometres remaining the riders tackle the first uphill. This 9 kilometres section slopes at 3%, which is perfect to stretch the legs – yet, the climb is very irregular, fluctuating between (false) flats and sections of 8%.
Following a short descent the actual last climb appears. The uphill to La Covatilla amounts to 12.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.5%, although that statistic is biased. The first 4.7 kilometres go up at 4%, while the rest of the climb is averaging 8.5% with a lot of double digit stretches. The riders tackle the last 10% ramp with the flamme rouge flying over their head before the climb flattens out. The last 900 metres rise at around 4%.



Puerto del Pico climb


Alto de La Covetilla climb (last 9.8 km)

From 20 km out

Inquitus

Bookies Take

Bauke Mollema 5/2
Simon Yates 9/2
Dylan Teuns 11/2
Alejandro Valverde 7
Miguel Angel Lopez 7
Nairo Quintana 8
Thomas De Gendt 20
Benjamin King 20
Thibaut Pinot 22
Daniel Martin 22
Emanuel Buchmann 25
Steven Kruijswijk 28
Rigoberto Uran 33
Michal Kwiatkowski 33
Ilnur Zakarin 33
Enric Mas Nicolau 33
Rafal Majka 40
George Bennett 40
Fabio Aru 40
Luis Angel Mate 40
Wilco Kelderman 50
Michael Woods 66
Richie Porte 100
Tony Gallopin 100
David de la Cruz 100
Ion Izagirre 100
Adam Yates 150
Pello Bilbao 150
Pierre Rolland 150
Vincenzo Nibali 150
Jack Haig 150

In and out watching so far , last I saw a Cofidis rider had a huge hole in the back of his jersey/skin suit.

Inquitus

Seems fairly settled, the break isn't being given enough rope, so GC battle up the last climb, probably confined to the last few km, there's an 11% section a couple of km from the end before it flattens out, seems likely that's the point where anything will happen given we are still early in the race and the time gaps are very minimal.

That was gas at the KOM with De Gendt going ahead and Mate panicking and pedalling frantically

Inquitus

Dan riding for Aru, wonder would Aru reciprocate if the circmstances where reversed.......

retalivity

Inquitus wrote: »

Dan riding for Aru, wonder would Aru reciprocate if the circmstances where reversed.......

'Non capisce?'

Breakaway looking good for it here.

MPFGLB

Breakaway has this esp with Mollema and Teuns up there

Inquitus

MPFGLB wrote: »

Breakaway has this esp with Mollema and Teuns up there

Aye gap has gone out, they are looking good now.

Delighted for the lad!!!!! Kwiatkovski and Yates losing time to some others here.

EDIT: Yates wasn't too far off the leading group of favourites and nicks the red !!!!

Inquitus

Yates in Red!

King looked absolutely spent when he was being cared for there a while ago, but is up walking around now.

dahat

He went very deep to win that stage today, fair play to the lad.