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

[sir fly]

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.

Basically, you're saying it's best on foot?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Basically, you're saying it's best on foot?

To me, yes . My muscles are more used to it. I trek frequently in the mountains so doing big ascents on foot is easier than by bike.
Then again, most people would prefer hiking to biking above certain gradient.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I fail to see how Kuss doesn't win here.

 

[Gigs_98]

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.

Is this picture from the top of the Gamoniteiru and the parking lot at the back there the finishing area of the Angliru? If yes than that's honestly incredible. Like, I knew those two climbs were close to each other but if it's actually possible to see one finish from the other that's honestly amazing.

 

[Red Rick]

Is this picture from the top of the Gamoniteiru and the parking lot at the back there the finishing area of the Angliru? If yes than that's honestly incredible. Like, I knew those two climbs were close to each other but if it's actually possible to see one finish from the other that's honestly amazing.

I don't think so I think that's just from a hiking trial in between?

And yes I've stared at this on google maps and why I could never explain to anyone.

 

[Scarponi]

Probably getting into deep Geography and Creation of roads which I have zero knowledge about but Can anyone explain why some mountain roads are created at 6% and others at 12%? Why couldn’t the Angrilu say be made longer and with lesser gradients and on the other side really low gradient climbs shorter and higher gradient

 

[SHAD0W93]

The best thing for overall changes would be Roglic cracking, however minuscule.

 

[sir fly]

Probably getting into deep Geography and Creation of roads which I have zero knowledge about but Can anyone explain why some mountain roads are created at 6% and others at 12%? Why couldn’t the Angrilu say be made longer and with lesser gradients and on the other side really low gradient climbs shorter and higher gradient

Terrain, slope, geology, traffic, funds...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Is this picture from the top of the Gamoniteiru and the parking lot at the back there the finishing area of the Angliru? If yes than that's honestly incredible. Like, I knew those two climbs were close to each other but if it's actually possible to see one finish from the other that's honestly amazing.

This picture looks like it's actually from the peak of Gamonal, a mountain summit just north of Angliru. That is indeed the parking area at Angliru, but Gamoniteiru is in the background, with the mast at the summit.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Is this picture from the top of the Gamoniteiru and the parking lot at the back there the finishing area of the Angliru? If yes than that's honestly incredible. Like, I knew those two climbs were close to each other but if it's actually possible to see one finish from the other that's honestly amazing.

No. It's the view from Gamonal towards Gamoniteiru (broadcasting towers at the top). The end of Angliru road is visible as well.

 

[ice&fire]

Probably getting into deep Geography and Creation of roads which I have zero knowledge about but Can anyone explain why some mountain roads are created at 6% and others at 12%? Why couldn’t the Angrilu say be made longer and with lesser gradients and on the other side really low gradient climbs shorter and higher gradient

Angliru was a path to walk the cows to the pastures up the mountain.

 

[sir fly]

Angliru was a path to walk the cows to the pastures up the mountain.

Weren't they all?
Just a matter of time...

 

[Nickname]

This is Gamoniteiro (Gamoniteiru), watch this video!:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0FROwBVOrU&ab_channel=Keoma
.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Probably getting into deep Geography and Creation of roads which I have zero knowledge about but Can anyone explain why some mountain roads are created at 6% and others at 12%? Why couldn’t the Angrilu say be made longer and with lesser gradients and on the other side really low gradient climbs shorter and higher gradient

I think this is actually an excellent question, glad you had asked!

Not that I actually know the answer, I'm hoping some of you more knowledgeable people will have it.

 

[Volderke]

Probably getting into deep Geography and Creation of roads which I have zero knowledge about but Can anyone explain why some mountain roads are created at 6% and others at 12%? Why couldn’t the Angrilu say be made longer and with lesser gradients and on the other side really low gradient climbs shorter and higher gradient

I once read that passes in the Alps were designed not to go over 7-8% so horse carriages could cope with the gradients. So if needed, the road would make another hairpin (at almost all costs) to avoid steeper sections.
But for most (smaller) mountain roads, they once were goat paths and the more road / pavement = more money and labour to build them. So it's cheaper to have it straight up the mountain at 15%, and when it goes over e.g. 20% they make a hairpin. But some mountains are very rough terrain and don't allow for too many hairpins, e.g. it's easier to traverse a section with a big rocky slope than to make hairpins in that section, even if that means a certain stretch goes over 20%.

 

[BillyBrown]

After today's exploits it is very likely that a break is going to take it. For somebody this is going to be a Caruso-style win.

 

[klintE]

Breakaway has this in a bag.
Mostly because the only team which can control it will throw off this burden to the others.

 

[Red Rick]

I struggle to see how the breakaway wins this one. I'm anticipating a GC team to start drilling on Cordal already, and breaks can self neutralize easily in the first part anyway.

 

[SafeBet]

I struggle to see how the breakaway wins this one.

I guess because nobody wants to be Roglstomped again?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

What are the odds that the top 10 are all from Jumbo, Ineos, Bahrain and Movistar?

 

[roundabout]

Movistar have 4 riders to control the stage and the best climber out of them crashed on the last stage

Ineos have 4 riders and have worked today

Bahrain have 5 (I guess Mäder will be left for the last climb) and have also worked today

Jumbo have 5 (I am presuming Kuss and Kruijswijk will be left for the last climb), but also have 3 stage wins already.

If a big group goes away again it would still need a combination of 2 teams to catch it (even if Jumbo could have probably caught them alone).

I see a break taking the stage as well, but let's see.

 

[topcat]

Breakaway win. Bernal and Mal in the breakaway. Bernal to attack in the descent, Mal to follow him ("just stay behind me"). Kuss to sneer. Roglic to bonk. Forum heroes to rate the vuelta 9/10.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's steep enough and we all know what that means.

 

[ice&fire]

What are the odds that the top 10 are all from Jumbo, Ineos, Bahrain and Movistar?

You don't believe in Meintjes?

 

[hfer07]

I'm going again with Bernal & Yates
Roglic can have the whole team doing the grinding , unless of course he feels like doing it by himself like a true Champion