Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 18 (Salas - Alto d'El Gamoniteiru, 162.6 km)

[Devil's Elbow]

Some very tired legs versus one very hard mountain. Oh, and it's also the queen stage.

The run-in is somewhat uninspiring, with the usual Puertu de San Llaurienzu/Puerto de San Lorenzo...

...followed by the even-more-usual Altu/Alto de la Cobertoria, from its easier western side...

...then a mediocre loop around Pola de Lena, following a similar pattern to the Pico Villuercas stage: descend the lower part of the final climb, then do an easy section before taking on the easy side of a climb before descending to the start of the final climb. In this case, that easier climb is Altu la Segá o del Cordal/Alto del Cordal, from the side that we usually see descended in Angliru stages.

Then it's time for what is probably the single hardest climb of the season (certainly if we exclude smaller races), Altu d'El Gamoniteiru/Alto del Gamoniteiro. Fans and Javier Guillén alike have spent years waiting for the logistics of this finish to be figured out, as this is probably the hardest climb you can do in Spain without travelling to the Canaries or doing the impossible and finishing atop Pico Veleta. This isn't the ideal stage or placement for its introduction, but it should still be carnage.

 

[Red Rick]

Hardest climb of the year.

 

[roundabout]

Rain again. Probably.

Also, 7th San Lorenzo and 8th Cobertoria in the past 12 years coming up. It's like other climbs do not exist.

 

[Tim Cahill]

It is a shame the Lancashire Longshot isn't here to win this one.

Bernal to attack on the Cat.2

 

[Red Rick]

Rain again. Probably.

Also, 7th San Lorenzo and 8th Cobertoria in the past 12 years coming up. It's like other climbs do not exist.

Sad Trobaniello noises

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The cyclists weren't saving themselves before this monster, were they? I don't think any other GC climb (except cancelled Crostis) has as long section with 10% of average gradient as this one (14 km). Cumulated fatigue will be huge on Gamoniteiru so some guys may lose a lot of time. It will be interesting to see how Roglic and Bernal respond tomorrow. They may pay for it (especially Egan). Primoz will try to control the situation - even if he feels worse he has a considerable margin and can limit his lossess. Movistar guys will try to attack Roglic but at some point they may just settle for podium places. The GC situation is more set than before and, despite difficulty of the last climb, mindset of top-guys and their level of fatigue may result in smaller time gaps and less drama than today (unless one big guy cracks completely).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Landismo

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hardest climb of the year.

In major races, yes. In smaller races, maybe the long climbs at monster altitude at the likes of Vuelta a Colombia or Tour of Qinghai Lake can compete, but a) those are really hard to compare and b) they're .2 races anyway.

 

[Bolder]

As a recreational rider, the difference for me between a constant 8 pct and constant 10 pct is huge. I go anaerobic so quickly at 10 pct but I can hold 8 pct just under threshold for a pretty long time. I think it's just a mental barrier of seeing double digits..

 

[SHAD0W93]

Landismo

To be dropped on Llaurienzu unfortunately.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

To be dropped on Llaurienzu unfortunately.

If the break gets the big gap and he's in it. He will win. But you are probably right.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Obviously a super hard climb, but under normal circumstances the not really steep central part and the fact that the last km is the steepest one will turn it into a bit of a waiting game. That said, after what happened today it's either huge gaps or a really horrible 2014 Zoncolan style waiting game because the winner is set in stone and everyone else is pretty much dead, nothing in between.

 

[ice&fire]

Sad Trobaniello noises

Trobaniello with rain would be more cancelled than it currently is.

As a recreational rider, the difference for me between a constant 8 pct and constant 10 pct is huge. I go anaerobic so quickly at 10 pct but I can hold 8 pct just under threshold for a pretty long time. I think it's just a mental barrier of seeing double digits..

You need a bigger sprocket.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Bernal to attack on the first cat1, Roglic to follow, Bahrain to chase to preserve Haig's top 10, Movistar to follow and try to preserve Valverde's top 10 then realise he isn't in the race before attacking each other, Kuss to win the sprint for 2nd.

 

[roundabout]

Landismo

Landa DNFed today

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Landa DNFed today

Wonder whether he crashed or whether he decided to make Llomena his version of Contador's Bonaigua.

 

[Red Rick]

Trobaniello with rain would be more cancelled than it currently is.

Trobaniello, more Fedaia than Finestre

 

[sir fly]

I think I have an idea how this one may unfold...

 

[Netserk]

Landa DNFed today

Mythical.

Tomorrow the ghost of Landa will possess Padun!

 

[Cassirer]

Gamoniteiru sounds like some ancient japanese beast that godzilla has to fight - hopefully roglic and especially heroic bernal find similar levels of Power!

 

[Descender]

Rain again. Probably.

Watch out for that Cordal descent.

Also, 7th San Lorenzo and 8th Cobertoria in the past 12 years coming up. It's like other climbs do not exist.

I'm a firm defender of San Lorenzo + Cobertoria because they're two hard climbs that have often served well in getting legs tired before the final climbs (Angliru, Farrapona, etc.). In the Vuelta, that's sadly not commonplace.

 

[carton]

So on the one side, the only real way someone can have a go at winning this race is by sending riders up the road and giving it the beans on La Cobetoria. That's a hell of an ask from a modern GC rider. And the one man we know has appetite for that kind of destruction just threw himself at a wall today.

On the flip side no matter how shiny the paint looked at the end of that, the wall took a pretty big hit today. If neither Lopez nor Mas nor Haig nor Yates finds it within themselves to pickup his kitchen sink and see if the wall can take another hit of the proper stuff I would be genuinely dissapointed. But first we have to see if Pidcock or Mader or Verona or someone can up the ante tomorrow.

 

[Bolder]

You need a bigger sprocket.

Yeah, and better legs!

I'd need a 34 x 32 to climb 10 pct for 15km.

 

[sir fly]

Yeah, and better legs!

I'd need a 34 x 32 to climb 10 pct for 15km.

No worries... I'd go with 28x30.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

This final climb can be regarded as the brother of fearsome Angliru. Gamoniteiru's top is just 4 km from Angliru's finish. Both are located in a limestone massif called Sierra del Aramo. Gamoniteiru is the highest peak of the massif (1791 m ASL). Another peak with the same prefix is Gamonal (1712 m ASL) - it's near Angliru col (initially it was an alternate name of that climb).

There is also a description of trekking in this area https://www.rutasmontanaasturias.co...l-moncuevo-gamoniteiro-xistras-barriscal.html
Last year I could have possibly hiked there but unfortunately had to cancel my travel to the Cantabrian mountains due to the pandemic.