Vuelta a España stage 17 preview - Can Almeida crack Vingegaard on El Morredero?

Key Information

• Date: Wednesday 10, September
• Start: 13:30 (CET)
• Expected Finish: 17:00 (CET)
• Stage type: Medium Mountain
• Stage length: 143.2km
• Elevation gain: 3,371m

Stage 17 is another which could bear significant consequences on the general classification, but like many stages in this edition of the Vuelta, the race will be pinned onto the final ascent to the finish.

Beyond a category 3 test in the middle of the stage, the rest of the route from O Barco de Valdeorras is rolling terrain. The climb in question is the Paso de las Traviesas, but with what is to come at the finish, it’s not the toughest test the riders will face in the final week, due to its steady gradient, standing at 7.8km at 4.1%. The intermediate sprint comes at Almazcara with 43.2km remaining.

Alto de El Morredero has hosted two previous stage finishes in the history of the Vuelta a España, and on both occasions, a Spanish rider has emerged victorious. The climb debuted in 1997 on stage 12, where Roberto Heras took the spoils, some years before he would go on to win four editions of the Vuelta, the most in the race’s history, now joined by Primož Roglič.

Alejandro Valverde was the winner when the climb last hosted a stage finish nineteen years ago, en route to finishing 2nd overall behind Alexandre Vinokourov in the 2006 edition.

The climb features gradients of over 15% around a third of the way up, with around a 3km stretch where the climb stays above 10%. Plenty of damage can be done on this section of the climb.

Inside the final kilometre, there is a section over 17% where riders could blow up spectacularly if they haven’t judged their effort well. Before the gradients completely ease to around 2% towards the finish line inside the final couple of hundred metres.

After the halted stage finish on stage 16 due to protests at the finish, we aren’t much wiser on the state of the GC contenders after the final rest day. The steep Alto de Prado climb on stage 16 saw Felix Gall distanced from the GC contenders, with the Austrian slipping a place to 6th in the GC, whilst Junior Lecerf was also dropped and fell to 10th.

With the lack of significant climbs until the finish, it's possible it could be another stage where the GC contenders are content to let the breakaway contest the win, as long as the group involves the right composition.

However, even if that proves to be the case, it's hard to anticipate a stalemate on the final climb due to the difficulty of its slopes, and the fact that the fight for the red jersey and the podium still hangs in the balance. 

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) holds a 48-second advantage over João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with two major mountain stages and an individual time trial remaining. 

Although the Dane knows how to get the job done as a two-time Tour de France champion, he will be far from relaxed with the lead he currently holds over the Portuguese rider, particularly with the time trial to go. 

It could be a telling sign if either Visma or UAE keep control of the breakaway for the stage win that their leader is feeling strong and confident, and with the advantage still under a minute between Vingegaard and Almeida, bonus seconds at the finish line could still be an important feature in deciding the direction of this Grand Tour.

Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) has done excellently throughout this Vuelta and remains in 3rd overall. However, the Brit will be well aware of Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), who remains within striking distance, in 4th, 32 seconds behind, with his Italian teammate, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) also close, moving above Gall into 5th. 

Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) also sits strong in 7th with Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike), Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious), and Junior Lecerf (Soudal-QuickStep), rounding out the top 10. 

With some of the steep sections on the final climb, the close advantages between some of these riders could be wiped out very quickly if someone is on a stormer, or equally if cracks begin to appear.

There was a big battle for the breakaway during the start of stage 16, but ultimately a group of 17 riders forged clear, with many expected names missing out. 

With an individual time trial on stage 18, a flat stage 19, and a mighty summit finish on the Bola del Mundo on stage 20, before the procession in Madrid, opportunities are drawing thin for the stage hunters.

With the dominance of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, sixteen teams have yet to taste victory at this Vuelta, and this includes the likes of Movistar, Bahrain-Victorious, and Soudal-QuickStep. Based on this, it’s likely that stage 17 could see another major battle to simply feature in the breakaway before contesting a potential stage win.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are in a strong position, but faces a dilemma. They have proven time and time again that they can win from the breakaway, twice each with Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine, as well as with Marc Soler. However, they still remain in the hunt for red with Almeida, and the work of strong teammates could prove to make all the difference. As we have seen throughout this Vuelta, UAE haven't restricted their riders from attacking, and it's likely we will see them on the move once more, even if it is initially as satellite riders.

Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) has a stage win now in the pocket, but will the Colombian champion look to strike while the iron is hot and win once more? Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) came close on stage 16 and will be ruing the relocated finish, and this hunger could help the 35-year-old strive for success.

Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla), Santiago Buitrago and Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious) are all strong climbers who showed positive signs in week 2 and will be hoping to take their team's first victory in this Vuelta.

Other riders to watch out for include: Finlay Pickering (Bahrain-Victorious), Clément Braz Afonso and Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ), Carlos Verona and Giulio Ciccone  (Lidl-Trek), Kevin Vermaerke and Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL), Bob Jungels (Ineos), Jefferson Cepeda (Movistar), Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep), Johannes Staune-Mittet (Decathlon AG2R), Harold Tejada and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana), Abel Balderstone (Caja Rural), Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty). 

Vuelta a España stage 17 favourites

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jonas Vingegaard, João Almeida
⭐️⭐️ Jai Hindley, Juan Ayuso, Marc Soler, Santiago Buitrago, Eddie Dunbar, Jay Vine
⭐️ Tom Pidcock, Giulio Pellizzari, Felix Gall, Matthew Riccitello, Antonio Tiberi, Egan Bernal, Mikel Landa, Giulio Ciccone, Lorenzo Fortunato, Bob Jungels

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