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Stage 19: San Vicente Baquero - Oviedo/Alto NAranco, 181km
Out of the Cantabrian frying pan and into the Asturian fire.
Stage Rating:
High mountains.
Jerseys in Play:
Note to the Vuelta: find a way to make these secondary jerseys even remotely interesting.
Grafix:
Mapa de la etapa:
And the profile:
Look at the elevations -- 220 meters, 235 meters... this is mere rolling coastal terrain. Pretty tame until the final 5km:
Buzz:
Here's how I described it in the Viewers' Guide:
Another ride around Asturias with an alleged MTF, but it seems kind of tacked on, out of habit, and anyway the purpose of this stage is to allow riders a moment of sanity. A last one.
But hey, when you are down to three seconds on GC, I guess this could matter.
Vueltabecco Verdict:
Breakaways rule. GC guys drool. Bauke Mollema!