Date: Friday 5 September
Distance: 203km
Start location: Cabezón de la Sal
Finish location: Alto de l'Angliru
Start time: 11:50 CEST
Finish time: 17:14 CEST
As a younger race, the Vuelta a España has never quite boasted the same long history of
mythical stories taking place on now-infamous mountains as either the Tour de France or Giro d’Italia. While the former has Pyrenean ‘Circle of Death’ summits that date back to the early twentieth century and household names in the Alps like Mont Ventoux and l’Alpe d'Huez, and the latter fearsome peaks like Passo Stelvio that legendary names like Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali raced on, there’s no single mountain associated with the Vuelta that can compare.
A mountain doesn’t necessarily have to be old to earn such hallowed status, however, and 24 years since first appearing at the Vuelta, the Alto de l'Angliru is well on its way to attaining a similar reputation. It’s not just its incomprehensibly steep gradients, that average 9.7% for 12.4km and includes a 6km stretch at 13%, it's the rough nature of the roads and tendency for mist to hang over it that make it such a compelling spectacle.
Today will be the tenth time the Angliru has featured at the Vuelta, and in that time it’s
already produced several generations’ worth of memorable stages and stories. In 2002, on a day made even more dramatic by tumultuous rainy weather, the climb sparked outrage in the peloton, David Millar going so far as to stop a metre in front of the line in protest, and subsequently having to leave the race. In 2017, it was the scene for jubilant, emotional celebrations as home favourite Alberto Contador claimed a romantic stage victory the day before retiring from the sport; he was cheered on by fans in circumstances almost diametrically opposed to the race’s next visit three later, when the riders climbed up in front of no fans whatsoever in eerily quiet Covid-affected stage won by Hugh Carthy. And just two years ago, internal tensions within the Jumbo-Visma camp threatened to escalate into full on civil war as Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič dropped their teammate Sepp Kuss, while wearing the red jersey, on Kuss’ birthday, no less. Thankfully for the American, he just about managed to cling onto the overall lead by just eight seconds, then went on to seal overall victory after his teammates opted not to attack him in subsequent stages.
As difficult as it is, the time gaps aren’t quite as big as you might expect on these past
occasions, and the overall lead only changed hands a few times. That might change this
year, on the basis that the organisers have made the whole stage much longer than most
previous occasions. Whereas usually the Angliru stage is among the shortest at the Vuelta, this year’s is one of the longest, and only the 210km 2008 version of this Angliru stage can compare. And those extra kilometres are full of climbing, with the category one Alto de Mosquera and Alto del Cordal both to be completed before. The Angliru alone is impossibly hard; these earlier mountains serve to make it even harder.
Contenders
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who is looking assured in the red jersey, is the favourite for the stage and the overall race. However, the other podium contenders like João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Procycling Team), who was the strongest rider on stage 11, will put up a challenge.
As it's a stage for the pure climbers, it will likely force open gaps on the general classification. Therefore all those with eyes on the top 10 will be hoping to have their performances of the race on the 13km climb. This means the likes of Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Felix Gall(Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss (Visma) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), will be battling it out to the end.
Watch out for the youngsters like Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech), who is building nicely into the race, and Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step), who is set to be one of Belgium's next Grand Tour stars.
If the win came from a breakaway rider, do not rule out double stage winners Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine or their teammate Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), all of whom have been active in a rollercoaster Grand Tour for the team. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) has lost enough time to be allowed in the break, after an impressive start to the Vuelta.
Other climbers who may fancy their chances from the breakaway include Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team), Javier Romo and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar Team), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), Ben O'Connor (Team Jayco Alula), Kevin Vermaerke (Team Picnic PostNL) or Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step).
Prediction
We think Jonas Vingegaard will win stage 13 on the mighty Angliru.
