Vuelta 2014: Favourites stage 11 - Break away with strong climbers to succeed

Stage 11 is a typical Vuelta ride. The opening section is for over 100 kilometres on rolling terrain and when the finale starts the roads are getting steeper and steeper. The closing climb to Sanctuary San Miguel de Aralar is peppered with 15% sections. Odds are on the break of the day stays together till the bottom of the climb and then the best climber aboard will ride to victory. (Slideshow route/profile)

The first categorized climb is 18.3 kilometres in length and that´s really all that´s to it. With a gradient of 2.6% it´s unlikely a group of escapees will be caugt here. The closing climb is a little under 10 kilometer (at 7.6%) and that´s should be enough for the strongest climber(s) aboard topt ride to victory.

Quastion is: who will me granted the privilege to be in today´s break? In other words: who won´t be a threat to the GC men? Let´s see…

Thibaut Pinot
It´s though to shine back to back in both the the Tour and La Vuelta. His GC in Spain is in shreds, opening opportunties in stages like today’s.

Julián Arredondo
A repeat prescription of the Giro? In Italy the 26-year old Colombian lost time in the overall early in the race and grabbed the chance to attack wherever and whenever he felt like, espacially in hilly stages and mountain stages, resulting in winning the mountain classification and the stage to Rifugio Pannarotta.

Johan Esteban Chaves
Another strong Colombian, the 24-year old Orica GreenEdge-rider was stage winner in the Tour of California (stage 6) and the Tour de Suisse (stage 8). Was high up in the GC until yesterday’s time trial.

Laurens ten Dam
Being top-10 material in recent Tour de France, the Dutch climber is certainly someone to be reckoned with. Doesn’t win a lot, but this could be his lucky shot.

Daniel Moreno
Two times stage winner in last edition, the Katusha-rider certainly knows how to celebbrate in his own country.