This is why I am liking this year's route.
I have a rule of thumb for MTFs in Grand Tours.
Climbs must be over 7% minimum average gradient.
Length isn't so important.
Always sorts the men out from the boys.
In the past, the Vuelta have been guilty of including too many +5% neverending grinds,
that favour the team train trial, a la Le Tour.
This stage starts with a near Spanish Alpe D'huez and ends with the same,
while throwing a Croix de Fer into the mid section.
Tomorrow has the hardest possible ascent of Sierra Nevada,
over the dredded Monachil and Pandera, on Sunday, also ends with a major ramp.
Real climber's territory and no place for the faux furred goats.
Basso, Gesink and Evans MUST apply maximum pressure and see if Don Ale has one of his Pitiful climbing days.