After beating the fearsome Cuitu Negru, with Pablo Castrillo’s unforgettable workthe platoon is enjoying itself second day of rest with no certainty about the fight for the red jersey and the other place on the podium.
The Slovenian Primoz Roglic retained his status as favorite despite Australian opposition Ben O’Connora leader who has the right to dream.
Two weeks did not decide the Vuelta, and now the men in the general classification will risk their dreams in the important week that includes the Comanche terrain, with the stages of Lagos de Covadonga, the Picón Blanco and the final test in Madrid. The mountain and the clock will be the judges.
O’Connor He is the leader and acts as such. Full of optimism, his motto is “endure and endure.” From the sixth stage in Yunquera he was fighting although he could see how the 5 minutes he got on that day of rent dropped. He smiles like a happy man in Asturias, with high morale, confident that he can change the forecast and become another Sepp Kuus, the American who finished red in Madrid after saving a similar situation.
Favorite Roglic, Mas and Landa in the battle for the podium
Primoz RoglicStep by step, he approaches his prey, without attraction, but sure. The triple Vuelta winner wants a fourth Vuelta and goes down in history. In Villuercas and Cazorla he won, in Ancares he achieved distinctions, but he sowed some doubts in other settings, such as Cuitu Negru. Not that one Roglic imperial, but he has the right to be considered ‘leader of the opposition’.
Among the candidates for the podium, “and why not, for red”, the “new” will appear Enric Masthird 2.23 behind the leader and 1.20 behind Roglic. The Spaniard is the star, showing an unprecedented offensive facet that could allow him to at least equal his three-second place in the Vuelta. But he hasn’t ruled out “anything”, not even the red option.
From Plus tightens the general in seconds. Another candidate is the Ecuadorian Richard CarapazJust 21 behind the Movistar leader. The winner of the 2019 Giro showed some irregularities, but will try to get to the podium with his usual fighting spirit.
And as the fifth classified, and with options, will appear Mikel Landa21 seconds away Carapace 43 of Plus. Differences generally acceptable to all, suggesting that the incentives of the Vuelta will be many, and possibly, and as the organization wishes, the race could even be decided in the Madrid time trial.
It is further away Carlos Rodríguezeighth, 4.40 behind the leader. However, the Granada cyclist, not at his best moment, will have mountains and favorable scenarios to try to attack the podium.
Lagos, Picón Blanco and Madrid time trial important events
The peloton will continue this Tuesday through the Asturian lands with one of the historic events of the Vuelta, the Lake of Covadonga (Special, 12.2 km to 7), a stage that will return after the victory of Roglic in 2021. The Collada Llomena (1a, 7.5 km to 9.4) and the Mirador del Fito (1a, 8km to 8) will be the first steps before the Asturian colossus.
Moving to Cantabria and the Basque Country for two days of theoretical transition, not exempt from possible ambushes, with objectives in Santander and Maeztu (Álava), in the Izki Natural Park. From there, the Vuelta focused all its excitement on the weekend’s intrigue.
On Friday, a stage with difficulty in the middle, Puerto de Pradilla, and the penultimate high finish of the Vuelta in Alto de Moncalvillo (1a, 8.6 to 8.9), with the last km of a 2-digit slope.
A day later, a day before Madrid, an explosive stage, with 7 scoring climbs and more than 5,000 meters of accumulated elevation gain. After climbing Puerto de Estacas de Trueba (2a), the race enters Cantabrian territory facing several climbs before returning to the province of Burgos via Portillo de Lunada (1a, 14.1 km at 6.1).
El Portillo de la Sía (2nd) and Puerto de Los Tornos (1st, 11.2 to 5.8) will continue to add toughness in a day that will have the last cherry on the cake in Picón Blanco (1st, 8 km to 9) , where should denote the general.
In the event of any loose ends, Madrid will bid farewell to the 79th edition of the Vuelta with a 24.6 km time trial between the City of Telefónica and its historic headquarters at Gran Vía 28, where the image of last podium. The award ceremony will take place in Cibeles.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
