The 2016 Vuelta a Espana is developing into the battle between cycling titans that we hoped the Tour de France would be. By winning Stage 10 on a mountain top finish at Lagos de Covadonga, Nairo Quintana became the overall leader of the race by nearly a minute over teammate Alejandro Valverde and, more importantly, Tour winner Chris Froome. Quintana showed the climbing and attacking form many wish he would have had in July, when he was supposed to break Froome and Team Sky’s hegemony on the Grand Boucle.
Vuelta 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Stage 11 online with NBC Sports Gold
As the Vuelta a Espana heads into its second half, a titanic battle between Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome is forming.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Stage 11 of the Vuelta will be another opportunity for Quintana to take time away from Froome — time he’ll need, because Froome is sure to dominate the Stage 19 time trial. The stage will begin at 7:21 a.m. ET at the Jurassic Museum of Asturias (nice tourism plug, that) in Colunga, and will end on yet another mountain top finish at Peña Cabarga, 168.6 kilometers later.
Live coverage of the stage is available with a subscription to NBC Sports Gold beginning at 9 a.m. ET.
The stage should be a transitional affair until the final climb, which begins with roughly six kilometers to the finish and hits gradients of 18 percent. It could be a good day for the breakaway, depending on its makeup and how motivated riders are coming off a rest day.
The best action will likely be in the peloton, however, where an ever-hungry but probably tired Froome will be fighting to stay within shouting distance of what seems like a much fresher Quintana. Froome did his best to mitigate Quintana’s damage Sunday, closing the gap late to finish only 25 seconds behind the Colombian.
Those final six kilometers Tuesday will be telling, as the Vuelta edges into the second half of its three-week sojourn.
Vuelta a Espana Stage 11 profile
Profile courtesy of the Vuelta’s official site.
Vuelta a Espana coverage for Stage 11 on Wednesday
Start time: 7:21 a.m. ET
Route: 168.6 kilometers from Colunga/Jurassic Museum to Peña Cabarga
Live streaming: NBC Sports Gold (subscription required), beginning at 9 a.m.
TV: Universal HD, 7-9 p.m. (replay)
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