Vuelta Stage 3 Preview: Zutphen - Venlo

by crashdan on Aug 30, 2009 1:00 PM EDT

Stage 3 :: Monday August 31, 2009
189.7km :: Zutphen - Venlo

There is a great German word as coined in the movie "Top Secret": Flachmatuch. Since this is an entirely made up word, I'm going to usurp it and use it to describe a stage that is so flat that they couldn't even find a 15m hill to point to and call a Cat.4 climb. This stage... is flachmatuch.

We are still in Holland though, and Lopex and Will would like all of you to know that despite what I intimated yesterday, Emmentaller cheese comes from Switzerland, not Holland. I stand corrected and we all stand edified. Someone explain to me why the Spanish Tour is getting us to talk about the differences between Dutch and Swiss cheeses? Isn't there a Drunken Basque Goat Cheese waiting for us at some point soon? Anyway, on to Zutphen.

Gavia is ignoring waves and cheese alike to bring us today's stage preview

There are no categorized climbs on profile for this stage, and it is impressive in its flatness. With a succession of hard mountain stages on the menu later in this Vuelta, the sprinters will be happy to enjoy these early flat stages. Bold prediction: This stage will end in a sprint.

The course travels directly south from Zutphen, passing through Toldijk before crossing into Germany. The Vuelta rides for approximately 20 kilometers on German territory and will race through Emmrich Am Rhein and Nutterden. As the course passes back into Dutch territory, there is a short, uncategorized climb. Then, it’s all flat to the finish, as the race passes through Ottersum and Tuindorp. The stage finishes in Venlo on the Meuse river at an elevation of 20 meters above sea level.

Courtesy of Gavia's Stage 3 Preview at Steephill.tv

Down at Frinking's corner, out in the street, Frinkster and the Poor Boys are playing, bring a nickel, tap ya' feet... undoubtedly, Frinky's gonna send me an email tomorrow that contains valuable insight... but I'm going to be on a boat somewhere around San Clemente island, so I'll have to go with what I already have.

Then there are 2 very flat stages. The KOM jersey can be win on the only molehill they climb. It's in honour of the died men who made it possible the Vuleta start was in Assen. Only thing what could mess up the GC are Echolons!

"Echolons" ... sounds very Spanish, no? Leave it to our Dutch friends to bring the Spanish heat.

For my part, I've got nothing on this one. It's another loopy tour around Holland and the time tables for these at the Vuelta website were in a mix of Spanish and Dutch so they were harder than hades to map out. Here's hoping for some Echolons though.

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Comments

Frinkings corner!

I fell asleep. Today. Weer een etappe in Nederland. Na de Eneco Tour en 2 dagen in Sanje horen jullie je is aan te passen! Integreren heet dat! Well we will do it.. again. Has anyone already spotted the red bull? Well your goal for tomorrow. Maybe it will ease the pain.

by Frinking on Aug 30, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, and it was already in je inbox, shinebox!

by Frinking on Aug 30, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

in your.

by Frinking on Aug 30, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Cheese

Is of utmost importance in Holland. You don’t go about making mistakes about cheese in public. Angry mobs would chase you from the street if you ever showed your face in Holland. Those cartoon riots will pale in comparison…

A warned human counts for two! (Een gewaarschuwd mens telt for twee.)

"Where there’s a will, there’s a way.": Alberto Contador, shortly after waking up from brain surgery.

by Lopex on Aug 30, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

By the way

The winner of the stage today got a glass butterfly to promote the phenomenal butterfly garden in the great Emmen zoo. I’ve got an edifier and I’m not afraid to use it!

"Where there’s a will, there’s a way.": Alberto Contador, shortly after waking up from brain surgery.

by Lopex on Aug 30, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

and ementaller cheese

doesn’t just come from Switzerland ….. it’s the type that Americans would call “Swiss Cheese” – the holey stuff (or holy stuff for those that really love cheese)

A few years back the USDA launched rules that allowed for smaller holes …. and really pissed the Swiss off.

Moo

by Willj on Aug 30, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

PS - I am boycotting the Vuelta

until the hills arrive

Moo

by Willj on Aug 30, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

That is blatant alpinism

by Jens on Aug 30, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

True

On the other hand I suspect that a certain Swiss rider might do the opposite.

ie. Stay for the flat stages and leave for Switzerland when the hills arrive.

;)

Moo

by Willj on Aug 30, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Albertina bids farewell to the Vuelta until week three.

I’m going to Israel tomorrow for the next two weeks so you will have to cope without me (do I hear sobbing and wailing? No? Oh well…). I may have wireless access at certain points or I may not. I don’t know. So if you don’t hear from me it’s not because I don’t love you all dearly. I will miss you…until we meet again! And when I come back, Samu will be in gold, followed by Anton and Txurruka. You mark my words ;-)

"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.

by Albertina on Aug 30, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions