26 | August 22, 2019 | Cycling Weekly

VUELTA A ESPANA

The Vuelta was first drawn to this remote hill-top farmhouse

in 2016, attracted by the narrow 4km climb up to it. Surfaced

with dusty cement in places, and winding at gradients of up to

21 per cent through the scrubby bosque, it ’s exactly the kind of

obscure sharp finish ramp that the Vuelta specialises in.

Mathias Frank was the winner on that occasion, slipping

away with Dario Cataldo from the rest of the early break and

dropping him on the brutal slopes to the summit. Behind,

A lberto Contador put Chris Froome onto the ropes, but he

clawed back to his key rivals just before the line.

“The way we try and teach our guys to ride is to not go into

the red,” says sports director Oli Cookson, whose Ineos team

will include a contingent of future GC hopefuls. “Froomey,

[lead DS] Nico Portal and [coach] Tim Kerrison have been

work ing on that principle for years.

“It ’s hard for a young guy watching gaps open. But you’ve got

to pace yourself.”

Even on a short and violent climb like this: “the fastest way

up is your maximum pace at threshold,” he adds. “ You don’t

want to go over that.”

The 2016 visit was later in the race than on this occasion, but

a similar situation can be expected.

The first half of the stage takes a jaunt on flat coastal roads

before rising and twisting inland over a handful of smaller

climbs. These preludes won’t be enough to draw much from

the GC riders, and there’s a good chance they ’ll let a break go.

There will be a nervous approach to the narrow final ascent and

some splits are guaranteed on its slopes. The gains to be made

aren’t huge on a climb of this length, but any damage caused

will be a notable chink in a rivals’ armour.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 30

ONDA>MAS DE LA COSTA | 18 3 .2KM | MOUNTAIN

Mathias Frank inches up the

Mas de la Costa in 2016

There’s less than 30km from the hill of Catalonia’s famous

monastery to the finish line in Igualada, but possibilities

of a sprint are not surrendered easily. There’ll be a handful of

riders who fancy their chances of surviving the second-cat

climb and blasting to victory in a town known for its balloon

festival and airshow.

Bernard Hinault was the winner the last time the Vuelta

had a stage finish here in 1978, albeit on a hill-top a little out

of town.

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SATURDAY AUGUST 31

VALLS>I GUAL ADA |

166 .9KM | HILLY