Preview: What you need to know about stage 13 of the Vuelta a España
Preview: What you need to know about stage 13 of the Vuelta a España
Date: Friday August 27
Start: Belmez
Finish: Villanueva de la Serena
Distance: 203.7 km
One of the last sprint stages of the race. There are no classified climbs to speak of, and the peloton has shown the past two stages that it can actually bring the break back when there’s enough motivation in the bunch.
The biggest challenge may be the weather – it can get hot and windy in the Extremadura region. The forecast for Friday currently calls for moderate winds and temperatures in the realm of 33° C (92° F).
Who’s it for: Sprinters.
Dane Cash’s picks: With Jasper Philipsen out of the race, Fabio Jakobsen is a clearer favorite for the sprints. He’s got the speed and the support to win again here. If Arnaud Démare and Groupama-FDJ can get their lead-out sorted after some underwhelming showings, Démare should be a contender as well. Alberto Dainese and Jordi Meeus are others to watch, as is Michael Matthews, although he didn’t quite have it in the finale of stage 12.
