Vuelta Stage 9 Preview: Alcoy - Xorret De Catí

by crashdan on Sep 6, 2009 12:30 PM EDT

Stage 9 :: Monday September 7, 2009
188.8km :: Alcoy - Xorret De Catí

Unfortunately, I have to be brief... Gavia and Frinking have the conn...

Spare me the madness Gavia...

The Vuelta lingers another day in the bumpy terrain between the cities of Valencia and Alicante. The stage begins in Alcoy, which sits in the shadow of the Sierra de Mariola, and rolls over seven categorized climbs on the way to the finish at Xorret de Catí. Another up and down stage, the serrated profile offers little space for recovery. The climbing is relatively less severe than the previous stage, but this is another day for the climbers.

Surrounded by mountainous terrain, Alcoy sits on the banks of the Serpis river. Settlement in the area dates from the Paleolithic era, some 60,000 years ago. Cave paintings from the earliest human settlements still remain, and archeological excavations have uncovered stone tools and other artifacts. Alcoy is famous for its annual festival Moros i Christians, which takes place in April. The medieval festival celebrates San Gorge and involves parades and music.

Xorret del Catí has three times hosted Vuelta stage finishes in recent years and has a singular tradition. Only riders with the family name of Jiménez have won there. In 2004, Eladio Jiménez celebrated the stage victory in the Xorret del Catì. Sprinters Stuart O’Grady and Oscar Freire rounded out the top three on that occasion. When the 2000 Vuelta a España paid a visit to Xorret del Catí, Eladio Jiménez also won that edition, followed by Roberto Heras and Alex Zülle. In the 1998 Vuelta a España, José María Jiménez won the stage at Xorret del Catí.

Courtesy of Gavia's Stage 9 Preview at Steephill.tv

Bring the noise, Frinking...

As hilly as a hedgehog. Nat as steep as yesterday but hey.. If they had to that the course would have already been more spectacular as in the Tour, I'm looking at you Prutshomme, That's an Dutch joke.. 4x2categorie and 2x3categorie and finish 3km after a first categorie clim.. It's that I play hockey again else I was being tired of only thinking about it. Well if everybody is togheter on the top of the climb we know who's going to win in the finishline downhill...

Sorry for the brevity... I have things I have to attend to... this stage map leaves me speechless anyway...

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Comments

That would be stage 9 preview, it says 8

by agl on Sep 6, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

And "Conn" is capitalized, shipmate.

"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein

by swells on Sep 6, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Will there be a rerun of the stage anywhere on the internet?

Maybe just a recap? Anything?

by Forstoppelse on Sep 6, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Universal Sports has a video archive of all of the stages in case you miss their live coverage.

"One man's breath is another man's death."
Eddy Merckx

by titan_90 on Sep 6, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, great

I thank.

by Forstoppelse on Sep 6, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

The late Jose Maria Jimenez

RIP

by La3000 on Sep 6, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like a very fun stage !

Moo

by Willj on Sep 6, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Youtube of the 1998 stage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1F2txM3TTA&feature=related

They liked the 4 way split screen in those days, apparently.

by William H on Sep 6, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

OMG!!

Back when I actually rooted for Lance, lol.

by La3000 on Sep 6, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Who do I petition for a last-minute route change? Not in the mood for climbing this evening… and seeing as how I am getting to watch so few stages, I feel that my preference ought to be considered :-)

(Oh – unless there are glaciers. But I’m pretty sure that there will be no glaciers :-(…)

by Lou... on Sep 7, 2009 3:57 AM EDT reply actions

Good day was it? ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Just fabulous, thank you :-)

I left working thinking: “Oh man, can we start again from the beginning?! Can we? I haven’t had enough yet! No? Oh well, I just can’t wait to get back here and do it again tomorrow… oh darn, it’s my day off tomorrow…”

by Lou... on Sep 7, 2009 5:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Then really, you should have a drink or a snooze

and then come back to support Frinking in his quest to redeem Vino.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought he lost mega minutes yesterday?

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:28 AM EDT up reply actions

He did, but the level of glee

disturbed his (2) fans… I think the fact that the camera recorded his demise was the issue in question. ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions

baahahaha

needless to say, I am very happy about this!

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions

sigh...

… restrict your comments to the weather, Lou…

So what’s the weather like in Melbourne? It’s pissing down here at the moment…

by Lou... on Sep 7, 2009 5:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Even on the coast of NSW it's a bit wet.

First time in two months and it coincides with a big job I’v got, so I’m not tempted or distracted.
Melbourne: do they have good weather there?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:40 AM EDT up reply actions

not really

shower on and off today…

I was planning on running to the park,
changed to play Wii indoors now!

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Did you experience that massive rain/thunderstorm about 6pm?

It was unbelievable. Of all days for me not to take a brolly to work!

by celerity on Sep 7, 2009 6:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep

I’d walked in the door 10 mins earlier. I heard the rain start and thought “WTF?” – It hadn’t even looked like rain! And within a few minutes, I was tearing around the place closing windows. Moved my plants to the edge of the balcony to cop a wash & water, and got soaked in the process.

by Lou... on Sep 7, 2009 6:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Typical of me, i felt sorry for him when the camera

insisted on recording his humiliation. That said, i was mightily upset in 2007, so I understand why others thought he got what he deserved.
PS. How about Cuddles? A day in the oro might lift his mood ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:38 AM EDT up reply actions

only a 2 sec lead over AV

but now he needs to defend,
not the greatest thing methinks

Cadel never cracks under pressure….not.

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I have my fingers crossed for a 'respectable' showing.

I enjoyed seeing a return to form last night though, because I hate ignominy.;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:46 AM EDT up reply actions

mind you, I'm trying my best to be nice

see this from Blazin Saddles:

Finally, how can BS end without mentioning new race leader Cadel Evans? How unlike the Australian it was to move into the lead of a grand tour without doing anything of discernable merit except ride safely alongside his rivals.

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions

All I can say is that unlike the TDF

at least he was there!

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:53 AM EDT up reply actions

him and LL

just not GT winners in my book….

I do think Menchov is similar in terms of racing style, but the Russian is tougher in his head.

by rbjhan on Sep 7, 2009 5:56 AM EDT up reply actions

You're probably right

I have a soft spot for Menchov…

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 7, 2009 5:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I applaud your efforts

I can’t quite manage ‘nice’ at the moment. (alright, so I’m at a loss to think of when I can manage ‘nice’, too… Let’s just say that it seems more of a challenge than usual)

I am mightily annoyed that this development has caused elements of the Aussie media to finally realise that the Vuelta is actually happening. Usually when I see a mention of cycling in the free paper that is given out at the station, I’m delighted…

by Lou... on Sep 7, 2009 5:57 AM EDT up reply actions