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profile | map | timetable | preview | results | photos | video  View Stage 16 in Google Earth (kml file) or Export the Stage 16 GPX file
Stage 16: Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) → Haro This stage preview is available in the following languages:
(We are looking for translations in ALL other languages. Please submit your translation with the stage no. and language in the subject title. If you don't see your preview posted within 12 hours then please resend your preview as an attachment if you didn't already do so because we've had problems with some inline character sets like German.) Stage 16 preview: Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) → Haro, 188 km (rolling) |
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 Haro, a small town in the La Rioja region known for the Haro Wine Festival where everyone pours red wine on each other, will host the flat stage 16 finish. (photo credit: wikipedia) |
 
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September 5 post: Stage 16 is a rolling stage as we leave the Castilla y León region heading east through Burgos before descending off the northern plateau to the flat finish in Haro in the neighboring La Rioja province. The Vuelta a España often starts or finishes in Burgos but not this year. Burgos hosts the Vuelta a Burgos stage race in early August which used as the warm-up event for the Vuelta a España. Our current leader, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC), was third overall at that event.
Haro, the finish host, looks like a great small town; they love their bike racing as witnessed when the Vuelta passed through in 2007 and each June locals and visitors dowse one another in red wine during the Haro Wine Festival.
The riders are plainly exhausted. The hot, demanding route has made this one of the most difficult Vueltas in years. If this stage occurred in the first week it would likely end in a field sprint, but this being the start of the third week many riders will be happy to see a break escape. Riders that specialize in breaks will know this and will be extra-motivated. — Steve
