The return of the Vuelta’s most holy ground. Last time round, we saw long-range attacks and Roglic sewing up the GC. Will we be in for a repeat of either, both, or neither?
The first 70 kilometres are along the coast, taking in the same uncategorised climbs that the Vuelta uses any time it traverses the area. The three ones of any sort of note are El Infanzón, El Pedroso and Venta del Pobre. Of the former two, I have a profile, the latter is 5.0k at 2.8% as per this site.
Then, it’s time for that other classic Vuelta climb in this region. Mirador del Fito. This will be the 23rd time the Vuelta has been up here (albeit sometimes from the easier southern side), putting it level with Covadonga… for a couple of hours. It is of course most famous for being the climb where Miguel Indurain climbed off his bike for the last time in the 1996 edition.
In 2018, Unipublic included the little back road up Alto de Bada to break up the flat between Fito and Covadonga. Even though there’s much further to go before the MTF this time round, it makes its return.
Immediately after this, the riders reach Cangas de Onís, the base for Covadonga, but there’s a very important loop to be done before we get to the latter. Collada Llomena from this side is comfortably the hardest pass that can be put in the second half of a stage to the famed lakes, and as such it had been near the top of aficionado wishlists until Unipublic finally introduced it to the race in 2021. Roglic and Bernal then immediately proved everyone who had been calling for its inclusion right by ripping up the race on the second of two ascents, the move that decided the race. This time round, there’s only the one ascent, but then again we’ve had a fair bit of climbing before that…
Upon returning to Cangas, it’s time for the second most-used MTF in GT history. As has been the case for some years now, the finish is no longer at Lago de Ercina, but at the visitor centre, meaning the traditional profile only matches up for its first 12.6 kilometres. If you want the profile with the new finish, there’s a link here, but it lacks the detail of the one I’m showing in this OP.
The first 70 kilometres are along the coast, taking in the same uncategorised climbs that the Vuelta uses any time it traverses the area. The three ones of any sort of note are El Infanzón, El Pedroso and Venta del Pobre. Of the former two, I have a profile, the latter is 5.0k at 2.8% as per this site.
Then, it’s time for that other classic Vuelta climb in this region. Mirador del Fito. This will be the 23rd time the Vuelta has been up here (albeit sometimes from the easier southern side), putting it level with Covadonga… for a couple of hours. It is of course most famous for being the climb where Miguel Indurain climbed off his bike for the last time in the 1996 edition.
In 2018, Unipublic included the little back road up Alto de Bada to break up the flat between Fito and Covadonga. Even though there’s much further to go before the MTF this time round, it makes its return.
Immediately after this, the riders reach Cangas de Onís, the base for Covadonga, but there’s a very important loop to be done before we get to the latter. Collada Llomena from this side is comfortably the hardest pass that can be put in the second half of a stage to the famed lakes, and as such it had been near the top of aficionado wishlists until Unipublic finally introduced it to the race in 2021. Roglic and Bernal then immediately proved everyone who had been calling for its inclusion right by ripping up the race on the second of two ascents, the move that decided the race. This time round, there’s only the one ascent, but then again we’ve had a fair bit of climbing before that…
Upon returning to Cangas, it’s time for the second most-used MTF in GT history. As has been the case for some years now, the finish is no longer at Lago de Ercina, but at the visitor centre, meaning the traditional profile only matches up for its first 12.6 kilometres. If you want the profile with the new finish, there’s a link here, but it lacks the detail of the one I’m showing in this OP.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram