The Angliru may be the obvious absentee from the itinerary in Asturias but this stage highlights the fact that there are many more great tests that can be set in this, Spain's main dairy-producing region. This is billed as the race's queen stage although the penultimate day to Ancares is perhaps even tougher. There are five cat 1 climbs, the Cordal, Cobertoria and San Lorenzo being regulars on the Vuelta route.
The Farrapona has only featured once before, back in 2011, when Sky duo Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome appeared to be closing in on a 1 2 GC finish when they kept their rivals in check as Rein Taaramäe won the stage atop the 17km Farrapona. With neither Wiggins nor Froome riding the Tour, will both reappear here?
Javier Guillén says: "The Farrapona starts off easy enough but gets serious in its final 5km. This section averages between eight and 10 per cent. With four passes before this, there's going to be a real battle and it should be spectacular both from the sporting and scenic perspective."
Copyright: lavuelta.com
-
Niewiadoma: I wasn't sure I would ever have a chance to race the Tour de France
'To know that I have a chance to race it, and hopefully many other female cyclists will have the same chance for years to come is really amazing' says Canyon-SRAM leader -
Manuela Fundación leak deal for failed Mitchelton-Scott buy-out
Purchase of Australian WT squad allegedly valued at €7 million -
MPCC to suspend cortisol testing as WADA ban injectable corticosteroids
Group's 14-year fight eases with rule changes in 2022 -
Bertizzolo wins La Classique Morbihan
Italian stays away to beat Fortin, Consonni
