The battle for the red jersey is certain to heat up today. The stage mixes some renowned landmarks with new terrain. Chief among the former is the first pass of the day, the Collada de la Hoz. This was where Alberto Contador launched the stinging surprise attack that carried him to the overall title in 2012 at Joaquim Rodríguez's expense. The cat 1 San Glorio pass is long and sapping but there's plenty of time for the riders to recuperate before the final test, the cat 1 La Camperona.
The 10km climb starts easily enough but takes off over its final 3km, which averages 14 per cent. Several ramps are far more severe than that, up to 24 per cent in places, which will suit the pure climbers such as Contador and Nairo Quintana.
José Azevedo says: "A key day as it's the first of a series of three summit finishes. There are 40-odd kilometres after the cat 1 climb, so the gc riders will hold back to the final climb, which is very steep. If you don't have good legs here you won't be able to hide it."
Copyright: lavuelta.com
-
Ineos, Groupama-FDJ and BikeExchange among 12 WorldTour teams at Tour of the Alps
Nibali, Pinot, Adam Yates and perhaps Geoghegan Hart will target five-day stage race before the Giro d'Italia -
Indoor cycling: A comprehensive guide
Indoor cycling, whether for fun or necessity, can be a confusing minefield of options. Our comprehensive guide is here to help you get started -
Wout Van Aert's 2021 ambitions match new Jumbo-Visma salary
Belgian eyes Classics, Tour de France, Olympics and World Championships -
'Helping hands' prominent design element for new Qhubeka Assos jersey
Design with simple monochrome palette is 'deeply symbolic' for South African team in 2021
