Cycling Weekly – August 22, 2019

Cycling Weekly | August 22, 2019 | 35

CONTENDERS

The local hero

Evergreen Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will be setting out on his 25th Grand

Tour in the rainbow stripes of world champion. The 39-year-old Spaniard remains

as popular as ever on home turf, and still pretty potent for a win in a wide variety

of circumstances.

The stage snatcher

Given any opportunity to leave behind GC-assisting duties, Mikel Nieve

(Mitchelton-Scott) has a remarkable nose for a break on a mountain stage.

Not one to bet against if it’s a summit finish. And there are just a few of those in

the Vuelta.

The breakaway specialist

Everyone loves a bit of Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) in the breakaway. Will

the Belgian wait for a sprint like he did in the 2017 Vuelta or just, you know, hold

off a ravaging charge of GC favourites?

The rider in need of a result

Fabio Aru (UAE-Emirates) really hasn’t got a lot to show for himself since winning

the Vuelta in 2015. Last year he fell off and embarrassed his sponsors by swearing

about his bike. But 14th place at the Tour shows there’s still hope for him.

OTHERS TO WATCH

The youngster

Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Emirates) is exactly the kind of rider queuing up to knock

the likes of Aru off his leadership perch. Wins in this year’s Tours of Algarve and

California very much point to a Grand Tour contesting future for the 20 year-old.

THE JERSEYS

Overall leader

Based on cumulative racing time, minus

any time bonuses.

10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to

first three over the finish line on each

stage, with 3, 2 and 1 seconds at each

stage’s intermediate sprint.

Points leader

Based on accumulation of points

awarded daily at each day’s stage finish

and intermediate sprint.

1st to 15th place at the finish are

respectively awarded: 25, 20, 16, 14,

12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The first

three riders in an intermediate sprint

are respectively awarded the following

points: 4, 2, 1.

Mountains leader

Based on accumulation of points
awarded on each classified climb.
Points are awarded to either the first
five or three riders over a summit as
follows: Special category - 15 ,10, 6, 4, 2;
1st category - 10, 6, 4, 2, 1; 2nd category

• 5, 3, 1; 3rd category - 3, 2, 1.

Young rider

Replacing the combined jersey —

which required adding up a rider’s

mountain and points totals and then

factoring in their GC position — is the

far simpler young rider classification.

Best-placed rider under 26 wins. Ph

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