Also the stages you mention are hectic because Tadej and Jonas are in the race.Vertical meters are not everything.
Tour had 3 or 4 stages for GC riders very hectic and very stressful (stages 2, 4, 6, 7) despite few elevation. This is something the Vuelta doesn't have.
Remove them and the other GC guys will be quiet on those stages.
If Pog was riding the Vuelta against Jonas and Visma there are multiple stages that could have been turned to hell.
