Lots of climbing and some cobbles: this is what we should expect from the Ruta del Sol also called Vuelta a Andulusia 2023. Tadej Pogacar is the big favourite here. Can anyone challenge him?
Ruta del sol 2023 preview
Stage 1
Garganta de Hornos: 16.5 kilometres – gradient 3%. Despiernacaballos pass: 10.6 kilometres- gradient average 5.6%.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tadej Pogacar
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mikel Landa
⭐⭐⭐ Tao Geoghegan Hart
⭐⭐ Enric Mas
⭐ Egan Bernal
Stage 2
Puerto de la Hoya de Charilla: 10.3 kilometres long. Average gradient 8%, Maximum gradient: 14%
The finish: The ascent is 3.4 kilometres long and rises at 6.3%.
Last km: 11.5% and also features ramps that exceed 20% on cobbled pebble.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tadej Pogacar
⭐⭐⭐⭐Enric Mas
⭐⭐⭐ Egan Bernal
⭐⭐ Mikel Landa
⭐ Jack Haig
Stage 3
Cobbled terrain with a surprising finish: last km at 10% with ramps up to 25%.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tim Wellens
⭐⭐⭐⭐Tadej Pogacar
⭐⭐⭐ Jhonatan Narvaez
⭐⭐ Dylan Teuns
⭐ Stefano Oldani
Stage 4
Cerro de Sam Cristobal: 2.3km- 6.6%. Alto de Jaramillo: 5km- 7.3%. Fuentes de Cesna: 4.3km- 4.7%
Finish: 0.9 km at 5.8 %
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mikel Landa
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tadej Pogacar
⭐⭐⭐Enric Mas
⭐⭐ Jack Haig
⭐Tao Geoghegan Hart
Stage 5
Puerto del Sol: First 8 kilometres gradient up to 6% – 3 kilometres flat – next 7 kilometres long gradient average 7%.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Simon Clarke
⭐⭐⭐⭐Matej Mohoric
⭐⭐⭐ Ivan Garcia Cortina
⭐⭐ Micheal Woods
⭐ Tadej Pogacar
Velogames preview
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates/28): He can win all the stage, has a good team to support him. Unless something unexpected happens, he be worth taking up 28 out of 100 credits
Enric Mas (Movistar Team/22): His main target is the Vuelta this year, so we don’t expect him to be nowhere his form. But his is the guy who surprised us at the end last year, but taking initiative and attacking, if there is someone who can follow Pogacar’s attack, it is him.
Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers/18): He was the designated leader in Valenciana and he falters. A sudden spike of form is not expected considering, Egan Barnal and Tao Geoghehan Hart are also here.
Mikel Landa (Bahrain – Victorious/16): It is good to see the Spaniard close to his absolute best. However, it is hard to see him making the difference with no high mountain finish but he is a good descender.
Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers/16): He enjoyed the short climbs in Valenciana. He is expected to continue his form and fight for the win in the punchy finishes. How he will perform on the long ascent will be interesting to follow.
Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar Team/16): He comes out of a very good Saudi Tour. While he will have his chances at glory in stages ending with wall finishes. He might find it harder to follow Pogacar on long climbs.
Damiano Caruso (Bahrain – Victorious/14): He stepped into a team-mates roles in Valenciana. He is also expected to portect Landa and Haig here.
Jack Haig (Bahrain – Victorious/14): After a very good start of the season for Bilbao and Landa, Jack Haig should follow his team-mates in terms of form. He will be fighting for a final top 10.
Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers/14): He is on the right track in terms of recovery. He is here mostly to improve his conditions but the team won’t deny him the chance to fight for the podium should he desire it. ( There is still some doubts about his form and even his participation as he is till recovering from an injury sustained in Vuelta San Juan
Dylan Teuns (Israel – Premier Tech/12): There are technically at least 3 stgaes that we should see him be in serious contention of winning. He was at point last season, considered as the best puncheur in the world.
Michael Woods (Israel – Premier Tech/12): He was aiming for a stage win as he starts his season. The chances will be here on the uphill finishes.
Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates/12): While all eyes will be on his Slovenians leaders, he might seize the chance as to take a stage win for the second consecutive year.
Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck/10): A puncheur finisher who will top 10 in at least 2 stages.
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain – Victorious/10): How far from the front will he be on the descent following the long climbs in stage 1. Pogacar and his team are expected to blow the race from day 1, but Matej Mohoric is also a good cobble rider who will have plenty of chances here.
Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech/10): He was been very impressive at the start of this season and will the one to watch in those reduced sprints.
Corbin Strong (Israel – Premier Tech/10): After a very impressive autumn form, he looks to be sharp again this year. Another card for Team Israel Premier Tech.
Iván García Cortina (Movistar Team/10): He climbed well last week in Valenciana and conteste some sprints but we are talking about Team UAE with near full power controlling the race here.
Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team/10): Will he be given a free pass to try to win on stage 2 or is he expected to stay close to Mas?
George Bennett, Rafał Majka (UAE Team Emirates/10): They form part of the UAE block expected to protect Pogacar at the Tour de France. Their training start now and they are not expected to a go for their own glory.
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates/10): Well known for his early form glory, he has won here before and enjoy cobbles. He will be allowed to have a go atleast once.
Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan Team/8): His main aim is a stage win and he will eye for those reduced sprint or a break away.
Lorenzo Fortunato (EOLO-Kometa/8): A pure climber who also packs a very decent speed. He will be at his ease here. He will be in the top 10 stage finishes regularly.
Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers/8): He looked really good in San Juan and is one of the best on cobbles. He might end up being the best Ineos rider for your Velogames.
Lorenzo Rota, Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty/8): Both will be fighting for place in the final top 10 as well as stage win from the punchy finishes or a break aways win expected in stage 4 and 5.
Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny /8): He will have his go at stage wins as well. Puncheur style or from reduced group sprint.
Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain – Victorious/6): He will be sent in breakaways by his team to try to break the race from the front or win from the there.
Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA/6): He is a very good climber who has often falter under expectations, he did recently finished second in the Equador championship behind Carapaz.
Joan Bou (Euskaltel – Euskadi/6) : He had an eye-cathing week in Valencia with his continuous attack but that is not enough for Velogames sadly.
Aimé De Gendt (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty/6 ): A cobble rider who can also do well in medium mountain stages from break away
Sep Vanmarcke (Israel – Premier Tech/6 ) ;expert cobble rider.
Diego Pablo Sevilla (EOLO-Kometa/4): breakaways
Xabier Isasa/ Ibai Azurmendi ( Euskaltel – Euskadi/4): breakaways
Harry Sweeny (Lotto Dstny/4): one of the most certain breakaway riders.
Overall Preview
- 1.Tadej Pogacar
- 2. Enric Mas
- 3. Jack Haig
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