Favorites stage 14 Vuelta a España 2024 | Another Spanish bingo afternoon: chances for everyone

In the Vuelta a España, we only see a few stages over two hundred kilometers, but on day fourteen, there is one. There is a lot of climbing to do, but the percentages are not terrifying. Is there another chance for the attackers? It does look like it.

There is some climbing, but it's nothing compared to Friday and Sunday. We will have steep sections to contend with, but this time, it will only be climbs between four and five percent on average.

That starts with a long run-up stage from Villafrance del Bierzo, where we go slightly uphill for a hundred kilometers. We top that off with the Puerto de Cerredo, a seven-kilometer climb at 4.6 percent average.

Afterward, we descend to the intermediate sprint in Cangas del Narcea, where the road immediately climbs again for an extended period. Unlike many other Spanish climbs, the Puerto de Leitariegos (22.8 km at 4.5%) is a runner that nowhere gets steep. Once at the top, we descend for another 15 kilometers before the final flat kilometers run up to Villablino.

Climbs
102.5 km: Puerto de Cerredo (7.0 km a 4.6%)
183.9 km: Puerto de Leitariegos (22.8 km a 4.5%)

Timetable
Start: 12:25 p.m.
Finish: 5:16 p.m.

Rain prediction!? The riders haven't experienced that yet in this Vuelta a España, but Saturday is the day. There will be hardly any wind, but a lot of rain is expected at the end of the afternoon.

Well, we already know the names of the leading groups. Wout van Aert is the man who first comes to mind. The Belgian of Visma | Lease a Bike is doing it daily and can also score again for his points and mountain classification. Then, with his descent skills, he will also automatically get back in range of victory. Brandon McNulty and Jay Vine also know those characteristics after their fall on Friday.

Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) has also been closed for several days. The Swiss rider handles climbs well, can get along on the flat, and can ride a good descent. Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) are two more guys with all those things up their sleeves.

Other baroudeurs with a good punch are Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), Jésus Herrada (Cofidis), and Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan Team), while climbers such as Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal Quick-Step), Isaac del Toro (UAE-Team Emirates), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) and Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty) are also starting to find their way back into this round. Maybe even Cian Uijtdebroeks of Visma | Lease a Bike could do something.

Are there any others? Yes, say Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) has been riding up front for the entire tour. We haven't seen much of the same type as Oier Lazkano (Movistar), which is not valid for Marc Soler of UAE-Team Emirates and Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek).

The chances of it becoming something for the classification riders seem slim. If it does come to that, Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) are usually the fastest riders.  

Top favorites:Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco AUla)
Outsiders: Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ) and Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan Team)
Long shots: Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal Quick-Step), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Isaac del Toro (UAE-Team Emirates), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla), Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty) and Jésus Herrada (Cofidis)