Vuelta a España 2023

Stage 15 – Pamplona > Lekunberri (158.5km)

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Stage 14 Result

1st Remco Evenepoel (16/1)

2nd Romain Bardet (8/1)

3rd Lennert Van Eetvelt (150/1)

4th Jonathan Castroviejo (150/1)

Stage 14 Bets

Santiago Buitrago 2pts each way (4 places) @20/1

Hugh Carthy 1pt each way (4 places) @33/1

Christián Rodríguez 1pt each way (4 places) @40/1

David de la Cruz 0.5pts each way (4 places) @66/1 – 6th

Steff Cras 0.5pts each way (4 places) @66/1

The flat start meant a lot of luck was needed to make the break – and we didn’t have any. Nothing was going to stop Evenepoel though, who was on a special day. Quite some recovery after his problems on stage 13 that.

Stage 15 Preview

Up and down all day, this one’s too difficult for the sprinters and nowhere near hard enough for GC players. Never say never, but it looks nailed-on for a one-day type rider to win from a breakaway. There are three classified climbs, however, one of them – the Puerto de Zuarrarrate, 7.3km & 4.8% – is tackled twice.

The second ascent of the Zuarrarrate should be the decisive one with regards the stage win as it peaks with less than 10km to go. After that, it’s a downhill run to the line where a fast finish will be handy should a small group arrive together.

Stage 15 Contenders

Oier Lazcano (22/1; 23.00) – after getting his nose ahead at the Vuelta a Burgos last month, the newly crowned Spanish champion will be after a stage win before the race ends and this offers a perfect opportunity.

Rune Herregodts (40/1; 41.00) has been active but his bare results this Vuelta have come up short. That said, he hasn’t been cut adrift on the last two mountains stages which suggests his legs are still decent.

Jesús Herrada (25/1; 26.00) showed an impressive burst of speed to get his win on stage 11, though that was uphill. Herrada may have to make the difference on the climbs here in case he gets to the line with some faster climber-sprinters.

Romain Grégoire (25/1; 26.00) showed in the Tour du Limousin last month how quick he is on an uphill sprint, so it was a bit of a surprise he was beaten by Herrada into Laguna Negra. But this is good for Grégoire for whom it would be a breakthrough win.

Andrea Vendrame (40/1; 41.00) landed a stage in the Giro a couple of years ago on a similar profile to this. He ran an impressive third in Barcelona behind Kron. If it gets technical then Vendrame could have the smarts to finish it off.

Andreas Kron (9/1; 10.00) won in Barcelona, is good on punchy climbs and has a fast finish – what’s not to like. But the price is plenty short enough.

Marijn van den Berg (40/1; 41.00) has been a stage pick on the flatter stages, however, the standout performances in his career so far have come on lumpier parcours like this one. If it ends in a reduced sprint, there should be none faster.

Kaden Groves (40/1; 41.00) isn’t without a chance given how good a climber he is and will be smarting having suffered a mechanical when looking a big favourite to take the sprint stage into Zaragoza.  

Nico Denz (33/1; 34.00) took two stages of the Giro earlier in the year around a similar midpoint in the race as others start to tire. The German has been on solid domestique work so far this race, but may well be given freedom now.

Hugo Page (200/1; 201.00) is another card for Intermarché-Circus-Wanty and looks a big price considering he’s decent on a climb and fast in a sprint.

A whole host of riders and rider types will be looking to get up the road so we need to cast the net wide.

Stage 15 Bets

Oier Lazcano 1pt each way (3 places) @22/1

Andrea Vendrame 1pt each way (3 places) @40/1

Marijn van den Berg 1pt each way (3 places) @40/1

Rune Herregodts 0.5pts each way (3 places) @50/1

Hugo Page 0.5pts each way (3 places) @200/1

Posted 22:36 BST Sat 9th Sept 2023

Prices to win the stage (in brackets) are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change - find the best prices available on the Vuelta a España at Oddschecker

[Vuelta a España stage profiles reproduced by kind permission of Ben Lowe at Veloviewer.com]

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