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Spain's most demanding climb to make 6th appearance
The dreaded Angliru climb will be the penultimate stage finish in the 2013 Vuelta a Espana, according to Spanish media reports. The climb is expected to decide the race as the “last and demanding obstacle for the riders before arriving in Madrid. The official course is to presented on January 12.
Elcomercio.es reported that the Angliru will be one of two stages in the Asturias region at the end of the race. It has appeared in the Vuelta five times, most recently in 2011.
The climb is considered to be the most difficult in cycling. The 12.6km climb covers 1265 meters. The average gradient is 9.9% but has sections of up to 23.6%.
The Angliru, as the 19th stage on Saturday, September 14, would not be the only stage in the region. The previous day would also see a finish in a town yet to be named, but it would not finish on a mountaintop, focusing instead on the coast.
The Spanish website said that race organiser Javier Guillen consider alternatives as a final and decisive climb, including La Cobertoria, the Cuitu Negru and La Cubilla, but that the final decision fell to the Angliru.
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Stages featuring the Zoncolan, Mortirolo, and Angliru are why many fans are finding the Giro and Vuelta more exciting than the Tour. There is no simpler way to find out who's the strongest than putting one these as a mountaintop finish at the end of a long day. The riders might complain, but to any organizers reading this: keep including more of these climbs!
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I agree they are "must see" stages. But the mechanics as well as the riders must hate them!
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