Michael Woods won stage 7 of the Vuelta after a huge breakaway fight in what was another day full of tension all over the road with strong winds and technical fast descents forcing a lot of pace in the peloton that chased the huge break hard all day long. A group of over 30 riders was created over the first two hours of racing and had dangerous riders for the GC like Valverde and Bennett which had Ineos push hard all day long despite them not being overly dangerous long-term. The peloton finished less than a minute from Michael Woods who was in the front of the race after the final climb, was caught but then attacked solo in the final kilometers. Omar Fraile and Alejandro Valverde wrapped up the podium and the GC changed very little despite the situation, because of Ineos' extensive work.
Positive: Valverde, Bennett and Nieve climbing up the GC with a strong stage but one that may prove costly later, Woods getting his win after an unlucky opening day.
Negative: Ineos have kept their lead but I reckon they worked a little too hard. They burnt their whole team to keep a breakaway that had some riders not far in GC, but Bennett and Valverde shouldn't even be dangerous for Carapaz once the high mountains returned.
The Route
Stage 8 is another important stage for the GC, it isn't a hard day overall but there will be gaps in the final climb. The main challenge of the day "early" on is the Puerto de la Rasa which is 9.8Km long at 5.3%, it summits with 51 kilometers to go, and then it descends and has a flat run-up to the final climb.
It's 14.5Km long and has an average gradient of 6.7%, it's a climb of two halves though and the final one is much harder with the last 7 kilometers averaging over 9%.
The Weather
Luckily for the riders it shouldn't be as cold as last week but it won't be easy weather nonetheless. The route is twisty near Logroño and the wind will hit from east with a moderate to strong intensity, it will vary a lot throughout the day but where it mostly matters, the final climb, it should mean for a mostly crosswind in a road that is quite exposed.
The Favourites
Tomorrow is a day that will see a big battle for the GC in the slopes of Moncalvillo, the final climb is hard and whoever makes it in front will need a healthy gap to hold on the pure climbers who will be on the attack over those rough slopes. Seeing how Ineos and Jumbo have been riding my guess is that the GC riders will dispute the stage. However if they don't it should still be a pure climber to win front the front and today was a big effort to many of them (however as seen in the Giro it looks like fatigue isn't that much of a theme nowadays), some riders like Kuss, Elissonde, Guillaume Martin who looked good today and have freedom can be those options, but those who saved themselves today more should be better options like José Herrada, Ion Izagirre or Niklas Eg.
The fight for the GC though should be the main theme of the day and the winner may come from it, a day for pure climbers and Richard Carapaz should be licking his lips having a long and also steep climb which is just as he likes, the team worked quite a lot today but in Ivan Sosa he should have good support in a rider who likes similar climbs (but isn't in such strong form). Hugh Carthy is second overall and is also one who likes the steep climbs so it should suit him but I think he'll have his mind more on keeping his overall for now, Dan Martin and Primoz Roglic are riders who usually go much more through pace so it isn't easy to guess who will be the first one to move.
I imagine those moves should come from Movistar having Mas and Soler riding quite strong, being riders who rely on the climbs and aren't afraid to move they should ride strong, as Gaudu who's been on the rise and loves these steep climbs, Wout Poels aswell, if there's a slowing down like Formigal these riders can seize it once more, David de la Cruz, Felix Grossschartner, Esteban Chaves and who knows even Alexander Vlasov can have a big role tomorrow, even if they don't win the stage. Although there's been several mountain stages lots of riders have been on the rise, and the weather as made for a very hard race for many and in the end of such a concentrated period of racing we could see a big rider cracking on any day.
Prediction Time
⭐ Poels, Grossschartner, Soler, Gaudu, I.Izagirre, Eg, J.Herrada, Kuss
He's finally came into form and it's a beauty to watch. Carapaz is in red and Ineos have been attacking the race very hard, and even though they are leading the race they sure won't ride conservatively as Carapaz has a good opportunity to take time on Roglic. The climb suits him very well and he should be very confident after a strong performance in the brutal weather some days ago.
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