Vuelta riders gear up for tricky Stage 6
The organisers of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana continue to make things difficult for the sprinters in the field in Thursday's Stage 6.
The stage sees an overall descent from 600 to 100m over sea level, but the 151km route from Caravaca de la Cruz to Murcia has a few obstacles in store for riders that are less comfortable on the climbs.
After 75km, a 200m-ascent ensues over 15km. While that passage shouldn't cause too many problems for the sprinters, the category two climb up Alto de la Cresta del Gallo very well could.
The Cresta del Gallo begins with only 20km remaining of the stage, stretching for 7km with an incline of 4.36 percent.
What could have been an ideal setting for a sprint finish will instead become a race to the top of the Gallo that the climbing specialists and general classification contenders will relish.
After the first and only categorized climb of the stage, riders will drop steeply down the mountain for a flat 10km finish into Murcia.
Treacherous downhill phase
Last year, many riders found it more difficult to master the ascent down the Gallo than the climb up it.
Benat Intxausti and Linus Gerdemann both punctured their tires on the lumpy surface, causing their hopes of winning the stage to crumble.
Instead, Australian Simon Gerrans led a group of successful climbers to the finish line after putting everything on the line going down the mountain.
There will be something of a tribute to Alejandro Valverde on Thursday, winner of the 2009 Vuelta, during the stage. The stage is set in his home region and the Gallo is one of his favourite climbs to ride up in training.
Valverde is suspended until 2012 following his involvement in the Operación Puerto doping case, but his Caisse d'Epargne team mates are said to be targeting Stage six this year to celebrate their team mate.
Explosive climbers to pounce?
Caisse d'Epargne's former rider Joaquim Rodriquez, now riding with Russian Team Katusha, could certainly put his climbing prowess to use during the stage and claim the victory.
After Stage four, Rodriquez was third in the general classification, ten seconds behind Omega-Pharma Lotto's Philippe Gilbert.
Gilbert could be in contention here as well, but after draining his energy in Stages three and four it's uncertain whether he will manage to remain at the front of the peloton.
With his explosive climbing technique, Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck could pounce on the short climb up the Gallo to advance in the overall standings.
Schleck, runner-up in the last two editions of the Tour de France, was only in 123rd place ahead of Wednesday's Stage 5.
Liquigas-Domin's Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali, fourth in the overall standings after Stage four, will also be looking to claim his first ever stage win in the Vuelta. The 25-year-old has previously won stages in the Tour and Giro d'Italia.
Last year's winner Gerrans, now riding for British Team Sky, could emerge victorious on the descent into Murcia for the second year in a row.
Given the tricky conditions handed the riders in the closing parts of the stage, it may take a rider who is familiar with the terrain to clinch the victory.
Tags: