The Vuelta a España has been steadily growing in stature in recent years, but this year’s edition, despite being a memorable one, saw race director Javier Guillén forced to deal with a string of contentious issues.
Many of these centred on the design of the route, which once again went in for a huge helping of uphill finishes. There were 10 this year, maintaining an average of 9.6 across the five previous editions.
In contrast to the long high-mountain climbs of the Giro or Tour, the Vuelta has become synonymous with shorter, but far steeper, ascents – the ones that are often so narrow and poorly paved that they barely resemble roads. The day after making his way up the 20+ per cent gradients and dusty cement tracks of the Mas de la Costa, Team Sky’s David Lopez struggled to contain his frustration, arguing that the peloton was "sick of going up these impossible climbs” and “wanting the Vuelta to end, and to not have to return."
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While the repeated doses of tough summit finishes may not appeal to all – from fatigued riders to fans wanting less of a slugfest – Guillén argues that they play a vital role in enhancing the spectacle – and by extension the sustainability – of the race.
“The following day it was clear he [Lopez] was not speaking on behalf of the peloton, because many put his words into context,” Guillén countered in a Q&A with Spanish sports newspaper AS. “The participation in recent years doesn’t tell us that riders don’t like the Vuelta.
“Furthermore, the riders have as much responsibility as anyone when it comes to thinking about the public, because cycling’s business model depends on its audience. The sport is based on the ‘epic’, but epic isn’t just about the kilometres – it’s also about the efforts. If any cyclist has other ideas that would produce the same result, I’m all ears.”
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