PREVIEW | Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 15 - Breakaway day the end of an explosive second week

Preview. The high mountains have marked the second week, but many riders will get a new opportunity to come fight for the win. Stage 15 of the Vuelta a Espana is rather hilly however it is quite an open day where many types of riders can come to the front.

Stage 15 will be a hilly and explosive day, fit for the puncheurs and classics riders. The finale will be in Lekunberri after the riders take on the double ascent of the Puerto de Zuarrarrate. The riders will be happy to leave the high mountains however they must be fully focused for a day that features quite a few traps.

A technical and bumpy start is golden territory for a quality breakaway to form. This can see GC riders try out their luck in a day where GC teams want to save their legs most likely, but it's also prone to split which can be equally as dangerous. When it comes to the fight for the stage win - and GC battle, if it takes place - it will come down to the final circuit, in and around Lekunberri.

The riders will on two occasions climb the Puerto de Zuarrarrate which is 6.3 kilometers at 5.1%. Plenty riders can soar up an ascent such as this, it's a very open day. It summits with 38 and 9 kilometers to go, the descent is fast and straightfoward. Up the final ascent, if a rider goes solo over the summit it'll be near impossible to be brought back.

The Weather

A southern breeze. Weather should be stable, the final ascent will see a cross and tailwind throughout it whilst the final kilometers in a tailwind, a solo move off the final ascent is a certain win.

The Favourites

A very diverse fight for the stage win awaits us. Different types of riders can thrive on a day like this. Remco Evenepoel is not to be discounted, he's got his comeback win but has no reason not to keep giving it a go, and this day will suit him very well. Now in stage-hunting mode, Soudal - Quick-Step also have Mattia Cattaneo and Louis Vervaeke as weapons. A few teams have multiple riders who can fight for the win:

INEOS come with Filippo Ganna and Geraint Thomas; Bahrain - Victorious have worked a lot for Mikel Landa today and look strong collectively, Wout Poels, Antonio Tiberi and Santiago Buitrago may chase it; Groupama - FDJ have Michael Storer and Romain Grégoire; BORA - hansgrohe have Lennard Kämna and Nico Denz; Lotto Dstny has Andreas Kron and Lennert van Eetvelt whilst Cofidis brings in Jesús Herrada and Rémy Rochas.

A few others may have a more difficult task with less strong collectives, but can take advantage of a hilly and treacherous day. Rui Costa, Matteo Sobrero, Max Poole and Jonathan Caicedo will be among those. Being part of the breakaway itself will be a key goal for many of these riders, just as important as having the legs in the end.

A fight for the overall classification? I doubt it. The final climbs are not hard, and although you could imagine someone like Evenepoel trying on a climb like this which would suit him, it's not the case with the current rivals of Jumbo-Visma. Although very unlikely it's not impossible to think of a peloton going for victory, it is very possible that a few GC outsiders will go all-out trying to be part of the breakaway leading to a fast pace in the peloton.

The likes of Primoz Roglic can certainly take a win in a sprint, even if attacks don't succeed. Although unlikely you could possibly see a few teams working for a few fast guys who can climb such as Ivan García Cortina, Milan Menten and Marijn van den Berg - they may also aim for the breakaway if they see no-one will control in the peloton.

Prediction Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 15:

*** Romain Grégoire, Remco Evenepoel
** Marijn van den Berg, Filippo Ganna, Andreas Kron
* Primoz Roglic, Ivan García Cortina, Milan Menten, Louis Vervaeke, Santiago Buitrago, Lennard Kämna, Nico Denz, Matteo Sobrero, Rui Costa, Jesús Herrada, Max Poole

Pick: Romain Grégoire