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The Vuelta 2020 finally looks to the plain after three stages in which the mountain has been the protagonist… But for this reason, we cannot speak of tranquility. The route between Garray, in the Celtiberian site of Numantia, and Ejea de los Caballeros will be the first opportunity for sprinters in the race, but there will be an element that can cause that arrival is not massive: the wind. The route runs through the region of the Cinco Villas, in Aragon, where if you blow hard you can form a real escabechina. “You have to be aware of the forecasts, but there are specialist teams in this type of stage. We will have to be very attentive ”, warns an Enric Mas that, despite losing a few seconds in the Laguna Negra, he assures that he is “very well, just a little punch is missing these first days”.
With the Guadalajara stage of last year’s edition in memory, in which the fans made the group of favorites jump into the air, the important men will not want to be caught by surprise. Everyone will look at Deceuninck, one of those formations specializing in messing with these conditions that Enric Mas talks about, as the Mallorcan cyclist, who was a member of its ranks, knows well. The Belgian formation may be interested in riding fast and eliminating rivals for Sam Bennett. The Irishman, one of the best sprinters in the peloton, comes from doing a double in the Tour (Paris included) and already in the last edition of the Spanish round he took another two stages.
In a His main rival, Pascal Ackermann, is a similar situation, a member of a Bora who also has the ability to stretch the squad on the plain and mount ambushes if the wind blows. Other big names that start among the favorites if the massive arrival occurs are Jasper Philipsen, fast man of the UAE, or even the Estonian sprinter Mihkel Raim, asset of Israel.
Regarding the Spanish options to surprise, we will have to count on Jon Aberasturi (Caja Rural), who was frank with AS about his strategy: “It is true that there are few options in this Vuelta and we must try to take advantage of them. I will try to be in a good position, it is difficult with so much World Tour, but I have to catch a good wheel, be close to the trains … and lay eggs ”. Carlos Barbero, from Burgos who plays for the NTT, will also try to be the protagonist on an important day for them: “It is true that the favorites are others, but we will try with Van Rensburgh or with me.”
