Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2023, stage 17: Ribadesella/Ribadeseya - Altu de l’Angliru, 124.4k

[RobertCrawley]

A shame we don't have team radio in this race, so we don't get to hear things like "Primoz, let Jonas pass for the Vuelta title", "Samenwinnen, Sepp, but also multi-21", and "when the Finn jumps, gazelles are flying".

Jonas: I'm dead, I'm gone. No wait! I'm alive, I'm good!

 

[Andy schleck]

He's not that far off right now. I think he's going to take 2 minutes on the rest of the GC field. Question is if Roglic and Kuss can pace themselves to stay on the podium.

I think he is a bit for off right now. I believe he can win tomorrow and he will take 30/40 s.

 

[Gigs_98]

I think the interesting thing about the Angliru is that it isn't just mythical because it's so hard. It's a climb that has actually been the setting of many iconic races. It's a climb that truly deserves to be called "mythical".

I'm not old enough to know much about the wins of Heras and the ones who came before him, but even only looking at the Angliru stages from 2008 onwards, so much has happened on this climb. Contador thrashing everyone and effectively winning his Vuelta there in 2008. Cobo winning the Vuelta out of nowhere and Froomes emergence as a superstar in 2011. The incredible Horner vs Nibali battle in 2013 (which I'm still butthurt about). And then finally Contador's last win and the fairy tale ending to his career in 2017. Really 2020 was the only time in recent history this climb hasn't completely delivered and even then we got a pretty interesting battle and a gc lead change.

Can't wait for tomorrow. I have the feeling the Angliru has another big story in store for us.

 

[Valv.Piti]

In terms of goat tracks, and the long ones at that, I prefer Zoncolan simply due to Angliru only kicking off at the second part. But it's damn close with Angliru.

I wasn't really that invested in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2020. Not because the racing wasn't good, but simply because I wasn't really a fan of none of the riders looking to win the race.

My first and best memory of Angliru is definitely 2008. Contador, Valverde and Purito is all I need in my Vuelta and Im a happy man.

 

[RedheadDane]

I've seen some talk about how Angliru is a "new" climb.
However, Rolf Sørensen had raced on it, so it can't be that new a climb!

 

[Berniece]

Remco only attacks for the first 2 mountains and getting points there. He expects Jumbo to go for the stage.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I've seen some talk about how Angliru is a "new" climb.
However, Rolf Sørensen had raced on it, so it can't be that new a climb!

Libertine‘s favorite 90‘s anecdote rider Melchor Mauri has ridden it twice, the first time for a team called Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Winterthur. That‘s one hell of a confusing name for a team.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I've seen some talk about how Angliru is a "new" climb.
However, Rolf Sørensen had raced on it, so it can't be that new a climb!

Every climb that wasn't used before 1988 is young.

 

[peterfin]

Evenepoel, if he's thinking of the future, should stay in the GC group and see how he stacks up, ...

He won't. He is not interested either. He follows his own script.

 

[tobydawq]

I think the interesting thing about the Angliru is that it isn't just mythical because it's so hard. It's a climb that has actually been the setting of many iconic races. It's a climb that truly deserves to be called "mythical".

I'm not old enough to know much about the wins of Heras and the ones who came before him, but even only looking at the Angliru stages from 2008 onwards, so much has happened on this climb. Contador thrashing everyone and effectively winning his Vuelta there in 2008. Cobo winning the Vuelta out of nowhere and Froomes emergence as a superstar in 2011. The incredible Horner vs Nibali battle in 2013 (which I'm still butthurt about). And then finally Contador's last win and the fairy tale ending to his career in 2017. Really 2020 was the only time in recent history this climb hasn't completely delivered and even then we got a pretty interesting battle and a gc lead change.

Can't wait for tomorrow. I have the feeling the Angliru has another big story in store for us.

2020 was the birth of Vingegaard as a force to be reckoned with.

 

[GroupDK]

Let's hope, we get that blast that we have all been waiting for amongst the leaders on the podium and they will find who is the strongest, and we don't see thirdparty aspects like team loyalty destroy what could be an awesome stage.

I hope Jumbo Visma got enough podium latitude that they simply conclude "Let the best man win" and give the spectators what they want.. a battle.
Vingegaard certainly stepped up, and constantly been the guy reaching for it, with numerous attacks and stage wins, but that is his main force, second half Grand Tour, recovery.

Kuss got 3.02min at the breakaway at stage6, and definitely been solid, and able to coup on the 3 min gain, but without that group-breakaway at stage6.. Kuss would be at 5 or 6 in the GC ranking.
And Seb Kuss also got a point, when he emphasized that he doesn't want presents.. if my teammate/captain is way stronger, then it would feel wrong for them (Roglic/Vingegaard) to gift it all to me..

Let the strongest rider win, and let us perhaps see Vingegaard crack, I'm curious how we would react to such a situation.. but Im not sure that we're going to see it, now that we are in the final Vingegaard-week, where he tends to just have an extra gear.

 

[RedheadDane]

Every climb that wasn't used before 1988 is young.

Rolf is old, and his career was a long time ago.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Finally Angliru time again…

Mortirolo and Zoncolan are good. Granon and Loze are good. But nothing compares to the mighty Angliru.

When Carthy recently won there, I watched live on TV. How slowly even the top riders rode. Incredible.

Angliru is actually my favourite pro cycling climb. I still remember the hype when it was ridden for the first time. And the hype is alive, still. Now I hope for some warm, light, Asturian rain for tomorrow.

A day for Sepp Kuss, I hope and wish him

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Finally Angliru time again…

Mortirolo and Zoncolan are good. Granon and Loze are good. But nothing compares to the mighty Angliru.

When Carthy recently won there, I watched live on TV. How slowly even the top riders rode. Incredible.

Angliru is actually my favourite pro cycling climb. I still remember the hype when it was ridden for the first time. And the hype is alive, still. Now I hope for some warm, light, Asturian rain for tomorrow.

A day for Sepp Kuss, I hope and wish him

I think 1999 or 2002 edition was the most brutal due to rain and wheels slipping. Some riders were even protesting its inclusion in the race. But years passed and Angliru became a frequent guest at the Vuelta. Nobody is protesting anymore.

 

[Nick2413]

Vingegaard on the team situation in today’s post race interview: “Tomorrow is more a day for Sepp, so I think yeah, you never know.”

Not sure if he’s implying they’ll ride for him or more that it’s better terrain but interesting.

 

[Salvarani]

2020 was the birth of Vingegaard as a force to be reckoned with.

You make it sound very epic phrasing it like that.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Remco, 'Jonas, I'm not a GC threat.'
Jonas, 'I know.'

Primož, 'Why not, eyh?'

 

[Valv.Piti]

Any special occasion for Vingegaard to attack tomorrow?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I think 1999 or 2002 edition was the most brutal due to rain and wheels slipping. Some riders were even protesting its inclusion in the race. But years passed and Angliru became a frequent guest at the Vuelta. Nobody is protesting anymore.

Which of those two was the one where David Millar threw a tantrum, stopped a metre from the line and DNFd? Still not sure whether that or the bike throw at the Giro was his more epic meltdown.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Which of those two was the one where David Millar threw a tantrum, stopped a metre from the line and DNFd? Still not sure whether that or the bike throw at the Giro was his more epic meltdown.

It was in 2002.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I see the stage isn‘t going to be broadcast in full… I thought it was??? Why did I think that and why aren‘t they doing it?

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Kuss to win on his birthday? Or will he have to make do with one of his teammates dedicating the win to him?

This one is fully meme ready!

 

[Gargamel35]

Any special occasion for Vingegaard to attack tomorrow?

Teamate out of coma. Need to win to celebrate it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I see the stage isn‘t going to be broadcast in full… I thought it was??? Why did I think that and why aren‘t they doing it?

Because a sub-130k mountain stage is obviously far too long to show in full.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

He's not that far off right now. I think he's going to take 2 minutes on the rest of the GC field. Question is if Roglic and Kuss can pace themselves to stay on the podium.

I'm pretty far from convinced. Both at Tourmalet the other day and today my eyes saw an indeed more struggling Jonas on last K compared to his MTF's this July.