Vuelta a Espana organizers Unipublic have made a definitive decision: their race is not one for sprinters, time triallists or classics riders, it's one for the climbers. Having been praised for their 2010 route with its 10 uphill finishes, the course designers have taken it a further notch by putting together a race containing no less than 11 of those difficult finales. With only one hilly time trial and an opening team time trial, the climbers lick their lips in anticipation of a race that suits them down to the ground while the big sprinters have all given the Vuelta and its many mountains a wide berth. Having attracted a host of the world's best climbers, the Spanish grand tour is set to offer a spectacular end to this year's grand tour season.

 

OBS! We will have daily stage previews with a detailed course analysis and updated stage winner picks based on the race situation.

 

During the final part of Angelo Zomegnan's reign as race director, the Giro d'Italia became famously known for its extremely tough courses, excessively steep climbs and many mountain stages. Since Michele Acquarone took over the reins prior to the 2012 edition, the race has made a public campaign to attract more stars by making the race more rider-friendly and less tough.

 

While the Italians are in a process of defining more balanced courses with an appeal to a broader spectrum of riders, the Vuelta a Espana organizers Unipublic have taken a completely different path. Gone are the days with long, flat stages along the Spanish motorways. The new rule is that every stage should offer some kind of spectacle and more often than not contain a difficult climb in the end. Automatically, that leads to a much harder course than any of their fellow grand tours have offered during the recent two seasons.

 

Few believed it to be possible to design a route with no less than 10 uphill finishes but that was what Unipublic did for the 2012 season. They faced plenty of criticism from riders, most notably the sprinters who mostly decided to avoid the Spanish grand tour, and many observers believed that the extreme number of uphill finishes would make it impossible to keep the race exciting all the way to the end.

 

Those pundits were proved wrong as the race developed into a close three-man battle between Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez with those three riders finishing inside 1.37 of each other. Constant attacks, a late change in race leadership and surprises dominated the three weeks of racing in what was described as one of the best Vueltas for years.

 

This year Unipublic tries to repeat the success and has even added another uphill finish to make more than half of the stages finish on a climb. Benefiting from a diverse terrain, the course designers have spread the crucial GC days equally throughout the entire race and the overall contenders will have to be ready from the very beginning if they want to step onto the podium in Madrid with the red jersey on their shoulders.

 

The race will get off to an unusually hard start with an opening team time trial and two uphill finishes before the sprinters will even get into play for the first time. The time triallists are clearly disadvantaged on a course that only offers one, rather short individual test in Tarazona at the midpoint of the race and even that stage contains a tough climb. Instead, the climbers will shine on a course that offers many of those excessively steep climbs that have characterized the Vuelta in recent years with recent classics like Valdepenas de Jaen and Pena Cabarga making a return after a one-year absence and the very steep Alto de Hazallanas making its debut. The Pyrenees will feature more prominently than they have done in recent years with three consecutive stages in the mighty mountain range to test the riders during the penultimate weekend and the riders will even get into France to ride up some of the well-known Tour de France climbs. It all comes to a dramatic conclusion on the penultimate day when the organizers will send the riders up the feared Alto de l'Angliru in what should be the queen stage of a race for the climbers.

 

While the climbers will excel, the sprinters have mostly decided to skip the Spanish grand tour. Only 7 stages may end in a bunch sprint and many of them even contain some hilly terrain along the way. While the biggest names have all designed an alternative autumn schedule, this offers some of the lesser-known sprinters the chance to shine on the few sprint stages that are on offer. Last year John Degenkolb emerged as the dominant sprinter and this year the fast finishers can once again look forward to battle for grand tour glory without having to beat riders like Marcel Kittel, Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel.

 

Below we give an analysis of each of the race's 21 stages to find out where the race will be decided, where the sprinters will come into action and where the potential pitfalls are hidden.

 

Stage 1, Saturday August 24: Vilanova de Arousa - Sanxenxo, 27,4km TTT

For the fourth year in a row, the Vuelta will kick off with a spectacular evening team time trial, thus offering the GC contenders an opportunity to open up the first time gaps already on the first day. The riders will set off on a ferry in Vilanova de Arousa and head onto a 27,4km, almost completely flat course that finishes on the coast in Sanxenxo where John Degenkolb won one of his five sprint stages last year. The route mostly follows the coast in a southern direction and has very few technical elements. This is a course for the powerful specialists, not too different from the one used for the stage 4 team time trial in the Tour, and so it has very few similarities with the technical opening stage in Pamplona last year or the hilly time trial that kicked off the 2011 race in Benidorm.

 

Compared to the recent Vuelta team time trials, it is a very long one and so we could see bigger time gaps than usual. On the other hand, team time trials are often decided by mere seconds and the time won or lost will probably not be overly important when we come to the end of a race that has no less than 11 uphill finishes. However, it will be psychologically important to get the foot off the ground in the right way and lost seconds may have more of a mental impact than a lasting effect on the GC.

 

 

Stage 2, Sunday August 25: Pontevedra - Baiona (Alto do Monte da Groba), 177,7km

There will be no gentle introduction to this year's Vuelta. After the important team time trial on day 1, the GC contenders will be tested again the next day which offers the race's first summit finish. Not many grand tours have put the climbers in the spotlight before the sprinters have had their first chance to battle each other in a bunch kick but that is what happens in this year's edition of the Spanish grand tour.

 

The stage starts in another Galician coastal town Pontevedra - where Fredrik Kessiakoff won the time trial last year and Peter Sagan beat John Degenkolb in an uphill sprint one year earlier - and follows completely flat roads along the coast during the first part. After 50km, they turn left to head up the category 3 Alto de San Cosme (10,6km, 3,4%). A fast descent leads to the river Rio Miño which separates Spain from Portugal. The riders will follow the river along flat roads back to the coast where they will turn right to travel along the flat coastal road.

 

It all comes to a dramatic conclusion when the riders once again leave the coast to head up the final climb, the category 1 Alto do Monte da Groba (11km, 5,6%, 10%). The ascent is hardest at the bottom while the middle section is much easier at just around 4%. The road gets steeper towards the end, as the final two kilometres will have gradient of around 7-8%. The climb is not difficult enough to produce major time differences but we should see gaps open up on the final, more difficult section. We may not see who will win the Vuelta but we are likely to get an indication of who won't. With just a short, steeper ramp at the end, the stage is perfectly suited to riders like Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez who will relish the opportunity to pick up a few bonus seconds already on the second day of racing.

 

 

Stage 3, Monday August 26: Vigo - Mirador de Lobeira/Vilagarcia de Arousa, 184,8km

The sprinters will have to bide their time for another day as the riders continue their journey along the Galician coast. Once again the stage is mostly flat but like the previous one, the stage has a nasty sting in its tail. From the start in Vigo, the riders will follow the coast for almost the entire stage as they zig-zag their way up towards the north. In Dena, the peloton will finally leave the coast before heading back towards the seafront a little later.

 

Getting close to the finish in Vilanova de Arousa, the riders will twist and turn their way around the city - briefly crossing a bridge to get onto the island Illa de Arousa before turning around to head back to the mainland - but the roads will be dead-flat all the time. That will finally change when the riders leave Vilanove de Arousa to head into the hilly southern hinterland and the finish at the top of the category 3 Mirador de Lobeira (4,2km, 4,8%). The climb is steepest at it midpoint but levels out a bit in the final kilometre which is rather technical with two sweeping turns inside the final 500m.

 

The stage is unlikely to produce any time gaps between the overall contenders and will probably finish in a sprint between the puncheurs. Riders like Philippe Gilbert and Gianni Meersman will have red-circled this stage but it is also a good opportunity for Alejandro Valverde to pick up another few bonus seconds.

 

 

Stage 4, Tuesday August 27: Lalin/A Estrada - Fisterra, 189,0km

The sprinters may get their chance on the fourth day of racing but an uphill finish will make sure that it's not a stage for every kind of sprinter. For once, the stage won't start on the coast as the riders have travelled to Lalin over the night. From there they will head back towards the sea and the finish in the coastal town of Fisterra. As the riders won't travel along the seafront, the terrain will be slightly more difficult than in recent days but there are no major climbs and the rolling terrain will have no big influence on the racing.

 

Having reached the coast, the riders will make a short journey inlands to pass the extremely steep category 3 ramp Mirador de Ezaro (1,8km, 13,1%) where Joaquim Rodriguez won a stage in his trademark fashion last year. From the top 34,4km still remain and so it is unlikely to have any big influence on the results. The riders will head back towards the coast to race along the seafront all the way to a spectacular finish at the end of the road on a small isthmus. The final two kilometres have some sweeping bends - the last of those just 200m from the finish - but the real challenge will be the slightly ascending roads. The final 2,4km have an average gradient of around 3,75% and so it should be another sprint for the puncheurs and most resistant sprinters.

 

 

Stage 5, Wednesday August 28: Sober - Lago de Sanabria, 174,3km

The sprinters should breathe a sigh of relief on the fifth day when they will finally get their first real opportunity. Paradoxically, the expected bunch sprint comes at the end of what will be the hilliest stage so far with no less than 3190m of climbing. From the start in Sober, the first part is rather flat as the riders head in an eastern direction to finally leave the Galician coast for good.

 

After 57,2km, the terrain gets more hilly when the riders face a long non-categorized ascent which leads to the bottom of the category 3 Alto do Covelo (10,9km, 4%). It is followed by a descent and some slightly rolling terrain which is more up- than downhill. At the 132km mark, the riders will start the category 3 Padomelo (11km, 2,6%) whose top is located 31,3km from the finish. From there, a long descent follows while the final part of the stage offers rolling terrain with some smaller climbers inside the final 10km.

 

From the 3km to go mark until the flamme rouge, the roads are slightly ascending while the final kilometre near the lake Lago de Sanabria is a little bit downhill. The final kilometres follow a mostly straight road until a sharp right-hand turn 700m from the finish and a roundabout just 300m from the line. The climbs are not difficult in their own rights but the combination could send some of the sprinters out the back door. However, it should come down to what should be the first real bunch sprint of the race but a breakaway win cannot be excluded in this uncontrollable terrain

 

 

Stage 6, Thursday August 29: Guijuelo - Caceres, 175,0km

The sprinters won't have many opportunities in this year's race and so they have to make the most of it whenever they get their chance. That should be the case on day 6 whose route is mostly flat. From the start in Guijuelo, the riders head in a southwestern direction for most of the day. In the first part, the rolling terrain is similar to yesterday's and has numerous uncategorized climbs. At the 30,4km mark, the riders reach the site of the day's first intermediate sprint from which they start a long gradual descent onto the plains in Southwestern Spain.

 

From there, the roads are mostly flat and straight for the rest of the day but as the riders get closer to the finish in Caceres, it will be slightly uphill. That will also be the case for the final 7km but the gradient should be almost unnoticeable and do little to derail the sprinters' plans.

 

The finish in Caceres is, however, rather technical. Between the 4km and 3km to go banners, there will be two sharp corners and a roundabout and the next kilometre offers two sweeping bends and two roundabouts to deal with. The riders will go straight through a roundabout just after the 2km to go mark and turn to the right in a big roundabout 1,5km from the finish. From there the roads are dead-straight until  a left-hand turn in a roundabout 600m from the finish. Then it's straight to the finish in what is almost guaranteed to be a big bunch sprint.

 

 

Stage 7, Friday August 30: Almendralejo - Mairena del Aljarafe, 205,9km

The Vuelta has been dubbed as a climbing festival but this phase of the race is more suited to the fast finishers. Compared to recent Vuelta standard, the 205,9km stage 7 is a long one and is destined to end in another bunch sprint as the riders continue their travel towards the south. The stage follows straight, flat roads for most of the day and while the stage has its few occasional climbs, none of those have been categorized. A longer descent towards the midpoint sends the riders back down to sea level as they get closer to the coast.

 

31,5km from the finish, the riders cross the line for the first line to head onto a flat finishing circuit and like the previous one, the stage finishes with a section dominated by roundabouts. The riders will pass through 6 of those inside the final 3km. 1,5km from the line, they will turn left in one before passing straight through another just before the flamme rouge. The final one is located 800m from the line and having made it safely through that one, the rest is almost completely straight. The finishing straight is slightly ascending but should do nothing to prevent what should be the final bunch sprint for quite some time.

 

 

Stage 8, Saturday August 31: Jerez de la Frontera - Estepona (Alto de Peñas Blancas), 166,6km

After a couple of quieter days, the GC riders get back into action during the weekend which offers two stages that can produce time differences between the overall contenders. The first of those is the race's second major summit finish, albeit still not one in the high mountains. From the start in Jerez de la Frontera near the southwestern coast, the riders head in an eastern direction before turning towards the southeast. Initially, the roads will be dead-flat but as the riders get a little further into the mainland, a few smaller climbs - none of them categorized - will make their presence felt.

 

Shortly after the first intermediate sprint at the 124km mark, the riders will reach the southern coast of Spain which they will follow all the way to the city of Estepona. Here they will make a left-hand turn to head back into the Spanish mainland and up the category 1 Alto de Peñas Blancas (14,5km, 6,6%, max. 12,5%). This is the toughest climb in the race so far and has a really difficult first 3km. From there, the riders will get a chance to recover during 2 almost flat kilometres until the going once again gets tougher.

 

The final 9,5km have a rather constant gradient between 6% and 8% with the finish being slightly easier at 5,83%. The final hairpin bend is located 1km from the finish and from there it's straight all the way to the line. The climb is not overly difficult and with far tougher terrain still to come, the main riders may play it a bit conservatively. Nonetheless, we should see some time gaps open up, also between the biggest race favourites.

 

 

Stage 9, Sunday September 1: Antequera - Valdepeñas de Jaen, 163,7km

The 9th stage offers a finish which may not have a long history but which has already developed into some kind of a classic. The stage starts in Antequera just north of Malaga and heads north along rolling terrain during the first part. At the feed zone, the riders will continue in an eastern direction as they continue on rolling roads towards the hills surrounding Valdepeñas de Jaen. After 116,4km, the riders will head south to start a short hilly loop which contains an uncategorized climb at the beginning. A flat stretch is followed by the category 2 Alto de los Frailes (6,2km, 5,8%) which offers a perfect opportunity for one of the stronger teams to apply the pressure and make the stage much harder. From the top, 16,2km remain and they are mostly downhill, only interrupted by a number of smaller climbs. The battle for position will be fierce as the riders speed down towards Valdepeñas de Jaen as all riders want to be in prime position when they pass the flamme rouge.

 

The final kilometre is all uphill on a mostly straight road in the small village and offers one of the most spectacular finishes in the race. The ramp is incredibly steep and has a 27% section just 500m from the line. The finish was first used in 2010 when Igor Anton left behind Vincenzo Nibali, Peter Velits, Joaquim Rodriguez and then-leader Philippe Gilbert and was back for the 2011 edition when Rodriguez proved that he is one of the best for those kind of short, steep finishes, beating Wout Poels, teammate Daniel Moreno and Bauke Mollema. Look out for Rodriguez to repeat his win on a stage that suits him perfectly but he may be challenged by Sergio Henao who is another outstanding rider on explosive, steep ramps.

 

 

Stage 10, Monday September 2: Torredelcampo - Guejar Sierra (Alto de Hazallanas), 186,8km

By now, the riders will be looking forward to their first rest day but first they will have to overcome the first real mountain stage of the race and what may be described as a cruel finishing climb. It all starts out gently in Torredelcampo as the riders travel in an eastern direction along only slightly ascending roads. From there, they will head south as they take on a long, non-categorized climb and some smaller hills which lead to a long gradual decent. Then the roads ascend slightly for few kilometres until they get to the 36,3km mark.

 

The remaining distance may be seem bearable but the terrain certainly isn't. First up is the category 1 Alto de Monachil (8,5km, 7,7%, max. 15%) which takes the riders up to 1465m above sea level. This is a really difficult climb as the first 5km have an almost constant 10% gradient. An easier section gives some time to recover until a new steep 11-12% ramp leads to a small descent. The final kilometre has a 8-9% gradient.

 

At the top, the riders will take on a technical descent which leads directly to the bottom of the category HC Alto de Hazallanas (15,8km, 5%, max. 18%). The average gradient seems to be manageable but don't be fooled by the deceptive numbers. The first 6km are uphill at a 4-6% gradient while the next two kilometres are almost flat. The 8th kilometre is even downhill. From there hell breaks loose as the gradient varies between 10% and 18% during the next 5km. The final 2,8km are easier at around 7%  but still have a 18% ramp 2km from the finish. The final few hundred metres just have a 2% gradient but by that time, the peloton will have exploded to pieces on what will be one of the hardest finishing climbs ever used in a grand tour.

 

 

Rest day, Tuesday September 3

 

Stage 11, Wednesday September 4: Tarazona - Tarazona, 38,8km

After a well-deserved rest day, the GC riders would have wished a more gentle resumption of the race. The race resumes with the race's only time trial which takes place just south of Tarazona. The distance is not overly long and the climbers will be happy that they will not have to contend with a flat route for the specialists. Instead, the riders will be sent onto a hilly course that has some similarities with last year's only time trial won by Fredrik Kessiakoff ahead of Alberto Contador. On that occasion climbers Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez defended themselves well by taking 4th and 7th respectively, and they hope to make a similar performance this year.

 

The first 9km are all slightly uphill as the riders head from Tarazona to the bottom of the category 3 Alto del Moncayo (9km, 4,1%). At the top, the riders head back towards Tarazona and the final 20,8km are mostly downhill but interrupted by a 10km stretch that is almost flat. The stage finishes with a fast downhill section which leads to the flamme rouge while the final kilometre contains a small hill, subsequent descent and a sharp corner 400m from the line. The stage is not overly technical and the final part should suit the more powerful riders well. On the other hand, the climbers will benefit from the first part and while the climb is not very difficult, it should allow the uphill specialists to minimize their losses in their feared discipline.

 

 

Stage 12, Thursday September 5: Maella - Tarragona, 164,2km

The sprinters haven't an opportunity for almost a week and have suffered up some very steep climbs to get to the 12th stage. Finally, they will get back into action as the Vuelta continues its eastern journey to finally reach the coast in Catalonia with a finish in Tarragona where Samuel Dumoulin won a sprint stage of the Volta a Catalunya 2 years ago and Abraham Olano won a Vuelta time trial in 2000.

 

The riders start in slightly rolling terrain which is followed by a long descent which takes them back to sea level. A few kilometres of flat roads lead to the bottom of the category 3 Alto del Collet (7,5km, 3,6%) which is followed by a long descent. From then, the rest of the course is almost completely flat and the sprinters will do their utmost not to miss out on one of only 3 remaining opportunities in the race.

 

Once again, the finale is rather technical. The riders reach the seafront with 3,7km to go and follow the coastline until the 1,5km to go mark. Here they will make a sweeping right-hand turn and a sweeping U-turn. Three sharp 90-degree turns follow - the last one at the flamme rouge - and from then on the roads are mostly straight and only interrupted by a sweeping right-hand turn in a roundabout 400m from the line. The penultimate kilometre is slightly uphill but it should do nothing to disturb the sprinters.

 

 

Stage 13, Friday September 6: Valls - Castelldefels, 169,0km

The peloton is getting closer to the Pyrenees and a resumption of the GC battle but before they get to the mighty mountains, they face another mostly flat stage. The riders have left the coast to start in Valls and the course takes them back to the seafront and a finish in Castelldefels. The start of the stage is flat but at the 13km mark, they reach the bottom of the category 3 Coll de la Torreta (10km, 5,8%). A short flat section at the top and a long, gradual descent is followed by some rolling terrain and another descent which takes the riders back to the coast and a passage through Castelldefels.

 

The riders won't cross the finish line this time and will instead head onto a nasty 60,3km finishing circuit. Almost immediately they leave the coast to climb the very steep category 1 Alto del Rat Penat (4,3km, 10,6%, max. 16%). From the top, the riders head down a long gradual descent towards the coast which is only interrupted by one smaller climb. The final 25km consist of dead-flat roads along the coast back to Castelldefels. Just before the 3km to go banner, the riders turn left to leave the seafront and pass through a number of roundabouts as they head towards the finish. Two of those are located inside the final kilometre with the last one coming around 400m from the line. Those 400m are, however, all uphill with a 7% gradient which means that a traditional sprint finish is unlikely.

 

When the torturous Rat Penat was last included in a stage in 2010, a breakaway stayed away to the finish with Imanol Erviti taking a solo win 27 seconds ahead of the his escape companions. The outcome is likely to be the same this time as the tough start will make the stage difficult to control and the sprinters will be dropped if a team decides to send them out the backdoor on the Rat Penat. With an uphill finish, they will also doubt their own ability to win a sprint and the only thing that can really prevent a breakaway today is if one of the puncheurs fancy their chance on today's stage. With three consecutive uphill finishes coming up, most will, however, be glad to save some energy for what is to come.

 

 

Stage 14, Saturday September 7: Baga - Andorra (Collada de la Gallina), 155,7km

The Vuelta enters its decisive phase with three consecutive stages in the Pyrenees and when the riders get to their second rest day on Tuesday, massive time gaps will have opened up. The first of those will be created in the short 155,7km 14th stage which takes the riders to Andorra and a chance to once again climb the Collada de la Gallina which was also included in the race last year.

 

The stage may be a short one but it is extremely tough with 4 categorized climbs and some high altitudes. From the start in Baga, the roads are slightly descending as the riders head in a northwestern direction but at the 39,4km, things will turn around and the riders will start climbing on gently rising roads as they cross the border to Andorra. At the 60,6km mark, hostilities begin with the category HC Port de Envalira (26,7km, 5,2%, max. 15%) which takes the riders to the highest point of the entire race at 2410m above sea level. The lower slopes are the hardest while the midsection is fairly easy with a rather constant 3%-5% gradient. The last part is tougher but highly irregular with some flatter sections and even a small descent interrupted by steep 15% ramps. The climb is located too early to make a difference but it is perfectly suited to tempo-riding on the front.

 

A 20,7km descent leads to the bottom of the category 2 Coll de Ordino (8,8km, 4,9%) which is followed by an 18,7km descent. The short category 2 Alto de la Comella (5km, 4%) will break the legs before the riders head down a steeper descent. 4,5km of flat roads lead to the bottom of the final climb, the category 1 Collada de la Gallina (7,2km, 8%, max. 15%). The climb has numerous hairpin bends and is easiest on the lower slopes while the final 4,2km are tougher. During the final 2,2km, the gradient won't drop below the 9% mark and the stage finishes with a 10% section and a sharp hairpin bend just before the line.

 

When the climb was used last year, Alberto Contador seemed to finally have dropped Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez and was cruising towards a solo win. The two Spaniards recovered and passed him inside the final kilometre with Valverde beating Rodriguez in a close uphill sprint. A breakaway may stay away as the teams have to gauge their efforts carefully in this hard part of the race. On the other hand, Rodriguez lives in Andorra and would love to win in front of his home crowd while some riders may be reluctant to see a breakaway ride away with the bonus seconds. In any case, the final climb is hard enough to produce some time gaps as it did last year where only 11 riders finished with a minute of Valverde.

 

 

Stage 15, Sunday September 8: Andorra-Peyragudes, 224,9km

There will be no time to rest as the race continues with a very hard stage that takes the riders into France and up some well-known Tour de France climbs. For the second day in a row, Alejandro Valverde will get the chance to contest a stage finish where he won a grand tour stage during the 2012 season. At 224,9km, the stage is unusually long for the Vuelta and it is a classic mountain stage with 4 mighty climb.

 

The race should get off to an attacking, uncontrollable and tactical beginning as the riders head up the category 1 Puerto del Canto (24,4km, 4,2%, max. 10%) just 7km from the start. The first 5km are rather steep with 7-10% gradients but from then on, the climb is rather gentle, rising at 3%-4% for most of the time. The descent is followed by 30,1km of slightly ascending valley roads which lead to the bottom of the category 1 Puerto de la Bonaigua (20km, 5,5%, max. 12,5%). This is a tougher climb than Puerto del Canto and has a rather constant 6% gradient, only disrupted by a short descent and a steep 12,5% ramp at the 7km mark.

 

A long gradual 66,8km descent takes the riders into France and to the bottom of the famous category 1 Port de Bales (19,2km, 6,2%, max. 10,5%). Being the climb on which Andy Schleck lost his chain in the 2010 Tour de France, the mountain plays an important role in the newer Tour de France history. The first 8km are rather easy but from there the gradient only occasionally drops below the 8% mark. From the top 24,5km remain and they are all either up- or downhill and so the climb may be used by the GC riders, should some of them need to gain some extra time with a long-distance attack. However, the most likely scenario is that the riders will keep their powder dry for the final climb which is a real Tour de France classic.

 

The category 1 Col de Peyresourde is one of the most visited by the French grand tour but as the riders did in the Tour last year, they won't finish with a long descent from the top. Instead, they will head down a short 2km downhill section which leads to the final 4,5km ramp up to the finish in Peyragudes. The combination of those ascents is a category 1 climb (16,7km, 4,7%, max. 13,33%). The Peyresourde is a tough climb with a slightly irregular start and a rather constant 7-8% gradient in the second half. The final ramp to the finish gradually gets steeper before reaching its maximum at 11,67%. The final 1,5km are, however, mostly flat with some small up- and downhill sections.

 

Once again, we should see the GC riders go head-to-head as they try to gain time on each other and on such a long day, we may see riders pay the price at the end. The stage win is, however, most likely to be decided from a breakaway as it will cost a massive amount of energy to keep everything together on such a long, hard stage.

 

 

Stage 16, Monday September 9: Graus - Sallent de Gallego (Aramon Formigal), 146,8km

The Vuelta organizers have introduced a recent tradition of hosting three consecutive summit finishes during the penultimate weekend of the race and they will do so again this year. This hard part of the race will come to a conclusion with what should be the easiest of those three mammoth challenges and the time differences should not be too big.

 

At just 146,8km, the stage is a short one and takes the riders from the start in Graus back into the Pyrenees. The first 20,3km follow slightly ascending valley roads and takes the riders to the bottom of the category 3 Puerto de la Foradada (5,9km, 5,9%) which is the perfect launch pad for an early attack. The descent leads to another long stretch of slightly uphill valley roads which is followed by the category 2 Puerto de Cotefablo (12,5km, 4%). Then it's another descent and an uncategorized climb which leads to the bottom of the day's final ascent, the category 1 Aramon Formigal (15,8km, 4%, max. 9,5%). This is not an overly difficult climb but the numbers are slightly deceptive.

 

The first 6km consist of an easy uphill section and a rather long descent. From there, the roads get steeper with a 9,5% stretch but it once again levels out at the 9km mark. The next 3km are easy and it is the final 3,8km that may produce a difference. Having mostly a 7-8% gradient before getting slightly easier during the final kilometres, small time gaps may open up but it will more be the accumulated fatigue from three tough days of racing than the climb itself that will produce a difference. The main winner candidates are likely to finish together.

 

With the stage not carrying huge prestige, a breakaway will probably make it to the finish but if the escape is not too big and bonus seconds important, no one can rule out the possibility that Movistar, Katusha or Sky will try to set up a sprint win for Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez or Sergio Henao respectively.

 

 

Rest day, Tuesday September 10

 

Stage 17, Wednesday September 10: Calahorra - Burgos, 189,0km

The riders have taken a well-deserved rest day and will now leave the Pyrenees to start their journey towards Asturias and the steep climbs in the northeastern Spanish region. Such a travel is a classic part of the Vuelta route design and often includes a stop in Burgos. The roads around the big Spanish city in the Castilla y Leon region are mostly flat and so usually give the sprinters a rare opportunity in a part of the race that is often dominated by climbers. This will once again be the case this year and while many sprinters may have chosen to leave the race before the Pyrenees, this stage and the final sprint in Madrid offer an incentive to stay.

 

The stage consists of a western journey from Calahorra to Burgos and the first part of the stage is mostly flat and only contains some slightly rolling terrain. At the 109,8km mark, the riders will reach the bottom of the category 3 Alto de Pradilla (6km, 5,4%) which is followed by the category 3 Alto de Valmala (5,8km, 5,6%) 23,7km later. From the top of the latter, 49,7km of slightly descending roads follow and they offer the perfect setting for a bunch sprint.

 

The finish in Burgos is completely flat but rather technical with numerous roundabouts and corners. The final 4,7km are, however, much easier and only contain a roundabout 3,8km from the finish, two sharp corners at the 2,7km to go mark and a sweeping bend 1,5km from the line.

 

Depending on the number of remaining sprinters, we should see a bunch kick to find out who will succeed Mark Cavendish (2010), Oscar Freire (2008), Egoi Martinez (2006), Alessandro Petacchi (2005, 2004, 2002) and Unai Etxebarria (2003) as the most recent winners in Burgos. The GC riders should, however, stay careful as the plains around Burgos are extremely windy and the crosswind has the potential to split up the peloton in this part of Spain.

 

 

Stage 18, Thursday September 12: Burgos - Peña Cabarga, 186,5km

The GC battle resumes with another finish which has developed into a classic in the recent Vuelta history. The stage takes the riders through moderately hilly terrain from Burgos to the coastal city of Solares and its difficult uphill finish on the Peña Cabarga climb. The first part of the stage is rather easy with some slightly rolling terrain but the only categorized climb is the category 3 Alto de Bocos (3km, 6,6%) whose top is located at the 78,3km mark.

 

 After 96,6km, the stage gets more difficult with the category 3 Alto Estacas de Trueba (10,9km, 3,2%), category 3 Puerto de la Braguia (6,1km, 6,3%) and the category 2 Alto del Caracol (10,6km, 5,6%) which follow in quick succession and are only separated by descents. From the top of the latter, 39,6km remain and they mostly consist of a downhill run to the coast and Solares with some smaller climbs disrupting the rhythm along the way.

 

Having reached Solares, the riders turn around to head up the category 1 Peña Cabarga (5,9km, 9,2%, max. 20%) that takes them up to the plateau overlooking the city. This is a short, brutally steep climb. The first 3km are difficult with a gradient between 9,5% and 14% but are followed by one kilometre of almost flat roads. They lead to the bottom of the final, steep 2km ramp which has a 20% section and gradient rarely drops below the 15% mark during the final kilometre.

 

This is a real Joaquim Rodriguez climb and it is no wonder that the Spaniard won when the climb debuted during the 2010 edition. On that occasion, race leader Igor Anton crashed out in the hectic run-in to the climb while Vincenzo Nibali did well to finish 2nd - losing a massive 20 seconds to Rodriguez over the short distance - and take over the leader's jersey from Anton. The finish was back in 2011 whene it was Chris Froome's final opportunity to unseat race leader Juan Jose Cobo. The Brit briefly dropped his rival but the Spaniard clawed his way back. Froome made one final powerful surge to win his first grand tour stage while Cobo went on to win the race overall. Look out for Rodriguez to keep everything together for a finish that suits him perfectly and could allow him to add another 20 bonus seconds to his tally. But don't rule out Sergio Henao in this kind of steep finish.

 

 

Stage 19, Friday September 13: San Vicente de la Barquera - Oviedo (Alto del Naranco), 181,0km

There will be very little time for the GC riders to rest as the 19th stage has another famous uphill finish. From the start at the seafront in San Vicente de la Barquera, the riders travel along the coast in a western direction as they continue their journey towards the Asturian mountains. Those coastal roads have a number of smaller climbs but are mostly flat and only the wind may pose any kind of danger.

 

At the 103km mark, the riders turn left to leave the coast and head up the uncategorized Alto de la Campa. There will be no descent as the peloton continues along flat roads to the hillier finale. The category 3 Alto de San Emiliano (6,3km, 4,6%) kicks it off with 39,0km to go and is followed by an uncategorized climb and the category 3 Alto de la Manzaneda (3,6km, 6,2%) in quick succession. From the top of the latter, only 12,4km remain. The first part is a downhill run to Oviedo and the riders will head straight through the city to take on the famous category 2 climb Alto del Naranco (5,7km, 4,2%).

 

The ascent has hosted the finish of the one-day race Subida al Naranco which has come into financial difficulties and hasn't been run since 2010 with Santiago Perez being the most recent winner. Instead, the climb has been included in the Vuelta a Asturias and Constantino Zaballa, Remy Di Gregorio and Javier Moreno have all triumphed during the three most recent editions of that race. The climb is not overly difficult and with a queen stage coming up on the penultimate day, the GC riders are likely to take it easy. Instead, the stage is destined to be won by an escapee who would relish the opportunity to go for the win on one of Spain's iconic climbs.

 

 

Stage 20, Saturday September 14: Aviles - Alto de l'Angliru, 142,2km

One Spanish climb is more feared than any other. The excessively steep Alto de l'Angliru has produced some huge dramas since its first inclusion in 1999 and it is only natural that the organizers have been tempted to make the race come to a dramatic conclusion on the steep slopes just one day prior to the Madrid finish. That's what they have decided to do and they will overcome the logistical difficulties that is related to its geographical location rather far from Madrid.

 

At just 142,2km, the stage is short and intense and kicks off in the coastal city of Aviles. The first part is rather easy as the riders will stay near the sea but the terrain will gradually get more difficult as they turn left to head towards the mountains. This part mostly consists of gradually ascending roads but the category 3 Alto de la Cabruñana (5,2km, 6,6%) and the steep category 2 Alto de Tenebredo (3,4km, 10,5%) will challenge the riders while they try to save energy for the difficult finale.

 

It kicks off with 26,6km to go when the riders hit the bottom of the category 1 Alto del Cordial (5,3km, 9,6%, max. 12,14%) which often precede the Angliru and is a short, steep leg breaker. The gradient will stay above the 8% mark all the way up and has some steeper ramps along the way. This is a perfect opportunity for a team to ride tempo as they try to put their rivals under pressure ahead of the crucial challenge. A fast descent - on which Igor Anton crashed out of the race is 2008 - leads to the bottom of the mighty category HC Alto de l'Angliru (12,2km, 10,2%, max. 23,5%).

 

The first 6km are fairly "easy" with a rather constant 8-9% gradient but from there hell breaks loose. During the next 4km, the gradient will stay above 12% and the climb has some excessively steep parts with the gradient reaching its peak at 23,5% 2km from the finish. The climb gets a little easier towards the finish where it has a 10% gradient but a 21% ramp just 1km from the finish will still make for a torturous final. The KOM points will be awarded 600m from the line and from there just a straight, slightly downhill section remains. On such a steep climb, it is every man for himself and the GC can potentially be turned upside down on the penultimate day with a climb that can produce bigger time gaps than any other in the race.

 

The climb debuted in 1999 when climber Jose Maria Jimenez beat Pavel Tonkov in a sprint at the top while Gilbert Simoni crushed the opposition one year later, finishing more than 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Roberto Heras put 1.35 into Joseba Beloki in 2002 which preceded a long absence for the Asturian climb. It made a comeback in 2008  when Alberto Contador beat then-teammates Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez while it made its most recent appearance in 2011. On that occasion, Juan Jose Cobo laid the foundations for his overall win by taking a dominant solo victory while Chris Froome was finally allowed to leave behind his struggling team captain and race leader Bradley Wiggins. A similar spectacle is expected this year as the GC battle in the Vuelta will come to a very dramatic end.

 

 

Stage 21, Sunday September 15: Leganes - Madrid, 109,6km

As usual, the Vuelta finishes with a largely ceremonial stage to Madrid and thus offers the sprinters one final chance to go for glory. While the Tour de France hasn't finished with a time trial since 1989, the Giro has recently had a preference for race against the clock. The Vuelta is more in line with the Tour and the final stage has been one for the fast finishers since the dramatic 2002 time trial that saw Aitor Gonzalez unseat race leader Roberto Heras on the final day.

 

Keeping with tradition, the stage will be a rather short one and starts in the Madrid suburb of Leganes. From there it heads south to make a small loop - passing through Alberto Contador's home town of Pinto - before turning around and head back towards the centre of Madrid. At the 64km mark, the riders will cross the line for the first time to start the first of 8 laps on the traditional 5,7km finishing circuit. Like the rest of the stage, it is completely flat and consists of long straight roads with 3 U-turns and 2 90-degree corners. The final U-turn is located at the flamme rouge and from there, the road is completely straight and flat all the way to the traditional finish on Paseo de la Castellana.

 

A bunch sprint is the guaranteed outcome of an otherwise festive and relaxed day and the remaining sprinters will go head-to-head in their quest to succeed John Degenkolb, Peter Sagan, Tyler Farrar, Andre Greipel and Matti Breschel on the list of sprint winners in Madrid. The points jersey is likely to be one for the GC riders but may still be up for grabs on the final day as it was the case last year when Alejandro Valverde finished 6th in the bunch sprint to take the green jersey off the shoulders of Joaquim Rodriguez on the final day of racing.