On the other hand, after Ben O’Connor’s coup in stage 6 all GC riders are way behind him in the GC. So it could also be a perfect chance to put pressure on the Australian
The route goes either up or down at gentle gradients over the first 51 kilometres. Climbs of 5.1 kilometres at 4.4% (after 17 kilometres), 7.1 kilometres at 4.6% (after 31 kilometres), and 6.6 kilometres at 5% (after 51 kilometres) stand out. All in all, that should be ample material for an engaging battle for the breakaway.
The terrain flattens out after the kilometre 51 mark before the uphill action really picks up 30 kilometres later at the foot of the Alto de El Purche. La Vuelta enters the Sierra Nevada on the 8.9 kilometres climb at 7.6%. Within a span of 67.5 kilometres, the riders are to tackle three category 1 climbs and two unclassified ascents.
Upon cresting El Purche, the riders fly down to Pinos Genil and continue along the reservoir Embalse de Canales. The route gently undulates all the way to Güéjar Sierra, although there is also a stretch of 1.9 kilometres at 7.6%. A sharp descent takes the riders over River Genil and straight up the Alto de Hazallanas, a brutal climb of 7.1 kilometres at 9.6%. It’s an ideal spot to inflict pain on your rivals, especially since the Hazallanas is tackled twice.
The Hazallanas will certainly do damage in the breakway, but it remains to be seen what the GC contenders will do. The downside of the Hazallanas in this scenario is that the climb precedes a 22.7 kilometres descent to the finish in Granada. It’s far from technical, so dropped riders have plenty of time to catch up.
Favourites 9th stage 2024 Vuelta a España
*** Giulio Ciccone, Michael Woods, Matthew Riccitello
** Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, Lennert Van Eetvelt
* Thomas De Gendt, Marc Soler, Nairo Quintana, Einer Rubio
Another interesting read: route 9th stage 2024 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2024 stage 9: routes & profiles
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My view about your stage favourite picks.
De Gendt among the contenders? I don’t think he is strong rider anymore. Same about de Marchi, who is one of the worst climbers actually and you picked him for stage 12. That’s strange.
Ciccone is in very poor form according to his results in previous stages. Maybe he is sick or crash made him out of energy.
Erase Kron, Caruso and Almeida from following stages because they abandoned the race.