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September 16, 2023
A ultimate alternative for the sprinters who nonetheless stay within the race
Distance: 101.1km
Begin location: Hipódromo de la Zarzuela
End location: Madrid
Begin time: 17:14 CEST
End time (approx): 19:58 CEST
The Madrid finale of the Vuelta a España may not be as iconic as its Tour de France equal on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, however there are many stunning websites and grand structure to rival it. Whereas Paris has the Louvre, Madrid boasts their very own world-leading museum with spectacular artwork assortment within the Prado; Paris has the Arc de Triomphe, Madrid the Puerta de Alcalá triumphal arch; and simply because the peloton on the Tour de France memorably circumnavigates the Place de la Concorde, right here the riders go previous the Fountain of Neptune that stands proud on the centre of the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo.
Additionally just like the circuit in Paris, this 5.8km circuit in Madrid is made up largely of lengthy, huge boulevards for the riders to race alongside. Most in fact includes driving up and down the tree lined Passo del Prado, with a quick diversion on the Plaza de Cibeles to journey up the well-known purchasing hub of Gran By way of, earlier than returning to complete at Plaza de Colón, the place a monument to Christopher Columbus stands. There’ll subsequently be just a few sharp right-hand corners for the riders to barter, together with one hairpin bend on the southern finish of Passo del Prado about 1km from the end, making this a reasonably technical circuit.
Stage profile sourced by way of the Vuelta web site
It may be technical, but it surely’s additionally very flat, which means a dash end is extra assured right here than in another stage of the Vuelta. In reality, every of the seven editions which have ended right here since 2014 bucked the pattern with a time trial in Santiago de Compostela have all been determined by a bunch end. The duo of Luke Plapp and Julius Johansen got here nearer than most to surviving from a breakaway final 12 months, solely being reeled in 800m from the road, however the sprinters nonetheless had their approach. Not less than, a lead-out man did: Juan Sebastian Molano produced such a robust lead-out for his sprinter Pascal Ackermann that the German didn’t handle to come back round his UAE Group Emirates teammate’s wheel, and Molano stored sprinting to the road to take victory.
Whereas the GC may have been determined by now, the factors classification might nonetheless be in play. Given the character of the entire race’s parcours, it will take a really in-form sprinter, and one who was able to taking factors in hillier terrain. However latest editions have seen sprinters who’re particularly concentrating on the classification profitable it forward of the GC contenders who choose up factors by default, so it’s nonetheless attainable that one of many fastmen might win the inexperienced jersey with a ultimate haul of factors right this moment. Even sprinters who did enter Madrid main the classification haven’t had sufficient left to really take stage victory right here in recent times, although — Andre Greipel was the final to take action within the inexperienced jersey approach again in 2009. This deep into the Vuelta, it’s not essentially the sprinter who has been faster earlier within the race who wins, however whoever has recovered the perfect.
Contenders
The grand finale in Madrid is most actually going to come back all the way down to a dash end, so it is going to be one final likelihood for the quick males who’ve made it by way of all 21 levels of this brutal Vuelta a España.
A rider who can be hoping to repeat historical past from the 2022 version can be Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Group Emirates), who unexpectedly received the ultimate stage final 12 months. He’s seemed in nice type within the ultimate bunch sprints this 12 months, even claiming a stage win. He’ll be hoping to double up on his victories in Madrid.
Main the factors classification, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) will hope to take this stage. Within the opening week, he seemed virtually unstoppable, taking two back-to-back wins. Nonetheless, within the final dash alternatives, luck was not on his facet, with a dropped chain on one stage and a crash within the ultimate few kilometres on stage 19. If every little thing goes his approach in Madrid, we anticipate to see him on the rostrum.
Stage 19 winner Alberto Dainese (DSM-Firmenich) can be a robust contender for this stage. His group lead-out was caught up in the identical crash as Groves on stage 19, however he nonetheless managed to energy to the road first. Together with his group again in motion for the ultimate stage, riders will need to keep watch over the Italian rider. The rider behind him on stage 19 was Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers). He has now taken two second-place finishes in a bunch dash and will fancy his possibilities one final time on this race.
Different sprinters who could also be in competition for taking the final stage can be Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies), Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek), Marijn van der Berg (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny), Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies), and Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ).
Prediction
We predict Kaden Groves will take the ultimate stage within the metropolis of Madrid.
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