Sprint showdown likely in Vuelta's Stage 5
Wednesday's fifth stage of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana is the first stage in this year's race that is suited to the sprinters in the lineup.
Staff and riders on the UCI ProTour have been surprised at the lack of sprint stages included in the route chosen by the Vuelta organisers for the 2010 edition.
With frequent climbs throughout the first week of racing, sprinters will find themselves struggling to win stages early on in the Vuelta.
Such a start to the race is much unlike the Tour de France, where the first week's worth of stages is usually decided by the sprinters.
Yauheni Hutarovich raced clear of Mark Cavendish to claim the Vuelta's second stage on Sunday, proving that the opening stages were not entirely void of opportunities for the sprinters. But it's not until Wednesday that a stage certain to favour sprinters takes place.
Downhill stretch delivers riders to Lorca
The 200km-stage will bring riders from Guadix to Lorca in the south of Spain, crossing the provinces of Almeria and Granada along the way.
Despite its description as "flat" by the organisers, the stage does contain a few climbs. It begins at 1000m over sea level and brings the lineup to 1300m after 20km. A sharp descent to 700m follows, and the next notable climb reaches 1280m after 120km.
If the sprinters hang on after these relatively undramatic ascents, which they should be able to do in the absence of strong winds, they are in for an ideal finish over the last 80km between Maria and Lorca.
That stretch will see riders descend from 1200m to 350m, and a mass sprint will likely be on the cards at that point.
Several sprint contestants
This year's Vuelta lineup boasts plenty of sprinters who will all look to pounce during Stage 5.
Cavendish, who leads the race after Sunday's second stage, is likely to be well protected by his HTC-Columbia teammates ahead of the final descent. It would be foolish to bet against him claiming the stage win in such favourable conditions.
But he will be challenged, perhaps by German sprinter Andre Griepel, who won four stages and the points classification in last year's Vuelta. Griepel won two stages in last month's Tour de Pologne and has shown impressive form of late.
Garmin-Transitions prospect Tyler Farrar will also be in contention. Farrar claimed one stage win in last year's Vuelta and won two stages in the 2010 Giro d'Italia.
Cervelo Test Team's Thor Hushovd, known to perform consistently in all competitions, will also be one to watch on Wednesday.
The Norwegian failed to defend his points classification in the Tour de France this year, finishing third behind Cavendish and Alessandro Petacchi in the category.
Petacchi holds the green jersey in the Vuelta after Stage 2, and he will not be one to miss out on Wednesday.
With challenges also coming from triple world champion Oscar Freire and recent stage-winner Hutarovich, spectators will revel in the entertainment provided on Wednesday.
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