The Vuelta a Burgos proved rather inconclusive for Bardet, who looked poised to claim only the second stage race win of his career after he soloed to an assured victory over Picon Blanco on stage 2. The Frenchman shipped over a minute at Lagunas de Neila on the final stage, however, it appears that he may still have been suffering the effects of his crash en route to that victory two days previously.
DSM have struggled for results this season, but Bardet has at least been consistent and he was aggressive at the Giro. His longstanding weakness against the watch cost him a top-five finish there, however, and they might place a ceiling on his ambitions here. His current form, however, is a little less certain.
He was well off the pace at the Tokyo Olympics and he was relatively subdued in Burgos too, but it may be that he has tailored his approach to the Vuelta differently after his third week decline at the Giro. Since then, Aru has quietly produced his best results since leaving Astana at the end of , taking second overall at the 2.
He has, however, been quietly consistent since he swapped QuickStep for Movistar at the start of last season, placing fifth at both the Tour and Vuelta last year and sixth in France this July.
The Colombian, on a one-year deal at Movistar, has had a rather mixed season thus far. His Tour challenge unravelled due to early crashes, however, and he abandoned the race in the third week. Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. In the intervening 19 days, riders will take on a mammoth seven summit finishes with more mountain stages and hilltop finishes, as well a possible six sprint stages. Stage 12 is another hilly day to Cordoba before the sprinters get a pan-flat day on the next stage.
Stage 14 sees a return to the mountains and another summit finish at the Pico Villuercas Stage 16 is another for the sprinters before a brutal visit to the Lagos de Covadonga Two hilly stage follow, including an uphill finish Mos. Castro de Herville on stage 20 before the final hilly time trial to decide the fate of the red jersey.
Movistar look to have the next-strongest squad. News Colombian set for return following confirmation of Movistar exit. News Spaniard hoping trip from Santiago de Compostela to Marbella will allow him to 'enjoy the bike in a different way'. News 'I experienced new things by no longer focusing on the general classification' says Frenchman.
News Team boss reveals Colombian did not attend team's post-Vuelta dinner after sudden abandon. News 'I didn't even know I would be here ten days before the race started' says Bahrain Victorious rider. Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter.
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Latest News from the Race. Read our full stage 9 preview. After the first rest day, the Vuelta continues to travel in a clockwise direction around Spain, travelling between Almeria and Malaga on the south coast. The main effort is the Puerto de Almachar, which starts 19 kilometres from the line. The ascent is 4. Read our full stage 10 preview. Only two climbs are categorised on stage 11, but there are over 2, metres of climbing on the menu. From the mountain peak, just 8 kilometres remain.
If numerous riders reach this section together, this climb will form the decisive time gaps. Read our full stage 11 preview. Read our full stage 12 preview. Stage 13 is the first change for the sprinters in, well, a while. Rolling terrain provides the makeup for the stage but there are no clear opportunities to attack away.
The GC contenders will hope to take a day off. Read our full stage 13 preview. That day off will be very much required considering what stage 14 has to offer. The Puerto Berzocana will first sap the legs, which is swiftly followed by the absurdly steep Alto Collado de Ballesteros — the 3km climb is These climbs are only the precursor to Pico Villuercas.
The mountain is over 16km in length and has an irregular gradient. The winner here must be one of the strongest climbers at the race. Read our full stage 14 preview.
The race has now moved just west of Madrid and the stages do not get any easier. With almost no flat terrain after the climbing begins, there could be teams attempting to blow up the race early on. The final rest day will be very well received after this. Read our full stage 15 preview. The race travels back to Northern Spain after the final rest day for what looks more like a hilly classic than a Grand Tour stage.
They are under 5 kilometres in length and take place some way out from the line, but later uncategorised hills mean the stage is far from over. A multitude of riders could win this one. Read our full stage 16 preview. Four categorised climbs make up stage 17, including two ascents of La Collada Llomena, which is 7.
A pivotal stage in the GC. Read our full stage 17 preview. The early climbs on stage 18 are remarkably difficult yet again, but arrive slightly earlier in the stage. With a lengthy time-trial still to come, the pure climbers will be desperate to gain time on the better time-trialists here.
Read our full stage 18 preview. Are there any sprinters left? Well, those that have conquered the consecutive climbing stages could be rewarded with the chance to sprint in Monforte de Lemos.
There are no severe obstacles in the final kilometres that could thwart the sprint, but there are some difficult climbs very early. Here, attacks will be prevalent and impossible to control, meaning the early breakaway also stand a great chance.
Read our full stage 19 preview. Now on the very east coast of Spain, just north of Portugal, stage 20 will host the final categorised climbs of La Vuelta
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