agonist/antigonist

 The queen stage! Stage 4 profile from procyclingstats.com The key point will be the climb of the alto de rosavientos, which tops out at 16 km from the finish, and features gradients of upwards of 12%. The climb is short, but it will select all but maybe five riders by the top. Again, I don't see a chance for the breakaway today with the GC so tight. Profile of the final climb of the race, the alto de rosavientos, from procyclingstats.com Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- Once again, the best climber is going to win the hardest climbing stage, especially with Wiebes available to do a turn like she did on stage 2. She'll try to go over the top solo and hold it to the line. ÉVITA MUZIC -- How is she feeling after the crash on stage 3? The second best climber in the bunch, unfortunately I think the crash will cost her the podium on this stage.   SHIRIN VAN ANROOIJ -- See above...I think the crash will cost her a chance at the stage KARLIJN SWINKELS -- Climbing well, maybe she can hol...

 Gah! I didn't get this one off before the start. With about 90 km to go, I will take Lorena Wiebes for the win today...the best sprinter should win the sprint stage. There are a few unclassified climbs with about 30 or 40 km to go, but I don't think they will upset the apple cart too much. There might be a late attack there, but the bunch will bring it back for a sprint finish. Stage 3 profile from procyclingstats.com

 The first of two GC days, although the finishing climb shouldn't be super selective. Stage 2 profile from procyclingstats.com Profile of the finishing climb from procyclingstats.com The early climb should allow a break to go clear while some unclassified climbs in the final 30km could allow a late attacker to go clear to the finish. The final climb is only 2.4km at 6.5%, so a someone could surprise Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- The best climber right now should always be favored to win the climbing stages! But we saw Muzic go around at a similar climb in la Vuelta...will history repeat itself here? ÉVITA MUZIC -- See above. LIANE LIPPERT -- Would normally be a strong challenger for this type of stage, but does she have enough race days this season to cross the line first? It could be too soon. PAULIENA ROOIJAKKERS -- I don't think she'll be distanced on the climb, should be in the top 5, I would say. SHIRIN VAN ANROOIJ -- The climb will not be a problem, but how is the sp...

 Whew...finally going to make it in time for the overall preview! The Spanish stage race cycling season continues...first was the Vuelta, then Itzulia, now Burgos. There's no Lagunas de Neila this year, but it still looks like a decent route. Stage 1 is for either the sprinters or a late break; stages 2 and 4 are the GC days, and stage 3 looks to be a nailed-on sprint stage, unless there are shenanigans.  Stage 1 profile from procyclingstats.com GC Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- After coming into the Vuelta winless, she took two wins there plus the overall as well as a win and the overall at Itzulia, things are starting to hot up. She's clear the best climber in the peloton right now; I would expect her to take stage 2, and if she doesn't have the overall sewn up by stage 4, to go on the attack on the final climb up the alto de rozavientos much as she did in the last stage in Itzulia to take the overall. In short, I expect Vollering to continue to ride super aggressively sear...

 I missed the overall preview and first two stages... Stage 3 profile from procyclingstats.com Three climbs, but they are all early...one for the breakaway, right? Not so fast...with the way Bredewold and Vollering have been sprinting this week, SD Worx will want to make sure this one comes back by the finish...unless they send Reusser in the break, which. let's face, is very much a possibility, especially given she is only 27 seconds down on GC. Regardless, SD Worx will be aiming to win this one as well, whether from the main bunch or the break. But, it could get a bit mad with how small the gaps are on GC. Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- Given the way she has sprinted this week, I think SD Worx came here with her the protected GC rider, but it hasn't played out that way given how well Bredewold is sprinting. It might be a bit irritating, but, on a team of such high quality, that's just how the cookie crumbles on occasion. She's a bit caught out being four seconds off t...

 The big GC day wraps up a nice week of racing. Stage 8 profile from procyclingstats.com Will the break finally have their chance...once again, it seems unlikely. And, once again, I think SD Worx will do everything to bring things back together, or at least well within striking distance by the base of the final climb, which looks quite brutal on paper. Otherwise, with a big climb before the finale, it looks like a good day for the break, especially being the last stage of the race. However, given the length of the final climb, unless the break has a massive (5 minutes? 10 minutes?) on the bunch, it will be brought back by the GC riders once the racing starts. Profile of the summit finish from procyclingstats.com Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- Will surely be disappointed with second place on stage 6...this is the last chance to stamp her authority and make make amends for last year's race. Given the length of the climb, I think we'll see the same strategy as stage 5, excepting t...

 The penultimate stage...straightforward with a kick at the end Stage 7 profile from procyclingstats.com A few rollers, but they shouldn't trouble most. Another day that looks good for the breakaway on paper, but I see it once again coming together by the end. The final ramp to the line is perfect for the classics specialists. Contenders SD WORX -- They have a lot of cards to play among Vollering, Reusser, Vas, and Fisher-Black. Vas is sprinting well here, but I think the team will send Reusser up the road with a now-typical late break and save Vas or Fisher-Black for plan B in case that move gets reeled in. I think Vollering will keep the powder dry for tomorrow. MARIANNE VOS -- Seem back to her best this season after iliac surgery, and this race has been no exception. She's taken most of the intermediate sprints unchallenged, and already with a stage win, it's been a good week. But, 'good' probably isn't enough for someone called the greatest of all time, I...

 Flat, with a nice climb at the end Stage 6 profile from procyclingstats.com There will be some wind on the way, but the stage should be all about the climb at the end. There is uncategorized climbing from the gun until 30km or so into the stage that should allow a decent break to form, but I expect everything to be brought back together by SD Worx by the finishing climb, which looks like this: Profile of the finishing climb on stage 6 from procyclingstats.com There should a large group at the base, and it isn't as difficult as stage 5's summit finishing, so there will be more riders in contention midway through. However, I don't see that changing the outcome too much. Contenders DEMI VOLLERING -- Took her first win of the season on stage 5 as well as the leader's jersey, her and the team will be looking to keep it from here on in. She slowly ground the rest of the leading group with about 2km left to go on stage 5, not even accelerating out of the saddle. She's ...

 I missed the first four stages; I will hope to make up for it here. It's the first mountain stage of the race and, if not for the echelons yesterday, I would say the first real GC day as well. Short, but with two categorized climbs, with the finishing summit a classic Vuelta-type finish. Stage profile from procyclingstats.com Tactically, I expect a break to stay away under the first climb, where SD Worx will likely hammer things to set the finale up for Demi Vollering. A fast tempo on the long but gradual first climb could put some riders in trouble, but otherwise shouldn't be too much of a challenge Profile of the final climb from procyclingstats.com The final climb is short, but steep, and I expect it to be ridden hard from the base, which will likely see big gaps (1+ minute) emerge between some of the GC contenders. The race wouldn't be decided on this stage, but a few will certainly have their hopes crushed. Contenders for the Stage DEMI VOLLERING -- Many have conten...