PREVIEW | Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 19 - Surviving sprinters get a much deserved opportunity following the mountains

Preview. Stage 19 of the Vuelta a Espana is the first day suited to the sprinters since the 12th day of racing. A week without bunch sprints, but that will end, likely...

A transition stage. The 19th day of racing at the Vuelta a Espana will see the riders race from La Bañeza to Íscar on what is a perfect day for the sprinters. No climbing, no more small ring riding, it will be a well deserved calmer day in the peloton. That is of course, until the final kilometers, where for different reasons some will hit the front to protect their ambitions.

This stage will be all about the sprint - as long as the wind doesn't blow hard on the exposed plains the peloton will ride by. Technical features you won't see them, a very simple and plain finale, one that I can't throw any criticism because it diminishes the chances of there being crashes.

The final kilometers are pan-flat, the final corner will be there with 2.3 kilometers to go. It's a finale where timing will be key. There won't be thinning down or narrowing points, so it's a matter of coming to the front at the right time, a balance between staying in the wheels as late as possible and saving as much as possible within circumstances.

Don't expect a relaxed day on the bike. It'll be warm, possibly rainy towards the finale, but the wind will blow! In wide vast plains the roads will be exposed, and the wind will blow from the southwest. It's going to be a day almost completely in the crosswinds - at this point not as important for the overall classification, but it may still lead to collective attacks in the peloton.

Kaden Groves and Juan Sebastián Molano will be the main favourites on the day. Arguably, they have shown more speed then the rest of the field on the regular bunch sprints. Alpecin's leadout has lost riders and will be in a difficult position to have Groves in front of the group. Molano has seen Rui Oliveira crash so it's not guaranteed that a brilliant leadout can be repeated, but with less tension and more confidence, the Colombian can certainly race for the win.

The race continues to have almost all the fast men that have started the race. Such as Filippo Ganna - the purest of sprinters! In all seriousness the Italian quite likely still packs a strong punch and he's shown that he can win a sprint in a field like this. He and Alberto Dainese are the nation's hopes and I argue to other riders who can win, if the top two are not on their day.

And then, as has been the case on a few sprints, total chaos can settle. Although not technical at all, a very long finishing straight will also present it's challenges. We'll have plenty of fast men at similar level competing for the other positions, or even for the win as Geoffrey Soupe can say it himself. Edward Theuns, Marijn van den Berg, Milan Menten, Hugo Page, Boy van Poppel, Ivan García Cortina, Andrea Vendrame, Lewis Askey and Dries van Gestel will also be riders to eye.

*** Kaden Groves, Juan Sebastián Molano,
** Filippo Ganna, Edward Theuns
* Alberto Dainese, Marijn van den Berg, Geoffrey Soupe, Milan Menten

Pick: Kaden Groves