The Vuelta a Espana closes the Grand Tour calendar in the only way it knows how, with brutal mountain stages. Beginning, for only the third time in the race's history, outside of Spain in the French city of Nimes, the race will bring the riders through the Pyrenees in the opening days, setting the tone for what is to come.
Defending champion Nairo Quintana (Movistar) is resting up after a packed season of racing, but Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Fabio Aru (Astana) are just a few names that will be on the start line this Saturday. Cyclingnews has selected five stages that could prove crucial in their fight for the red jersey.
Stage 3: Prades Conflent Canigó – Andorra la Vella (158.5km)
On paper there are stages that appear more obviously decisive, but what makes this one interesting is its position in the race. It’s rare for a Grand Tour to tackle proper mountains as early as day three, but the foreign start in southern France makes it hard to omit the Pyrenees on the way to Spanish soil.
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This one finishes in Andorra, and while the volume of climbing – more than 2,000 metres – will be a jolt so early in the three weeks, the first major climb, the first-category Col de la Perche, will itself be a jolt so early in the stage, with the road heading uphill pretty much from kilometre zero. It should make for an entertaining start to the day, even if the subsequent long and gently downhill section will mean any movement from the general classification contenders will be saved for later.
And some might just be tempted to strike out here, even if it is early and somewhat risky to show your hand. The Col de la Rabassa is over 13km long at nearly 7 per cent, and it’s followed by a descent and then the short but sharp second-category Alto de la Comella. It will be pretty hard to rectify any damage done there on the fast downhill run to the line.
In Madrid we probably won’t look back and say this is where the Vuelta was won, but it’s not too much of a stretch to suggest this is where it could be lost. In any case, it’s an early tone-setter in the tussle for the red jersey.
Stage 11: Lorca – Calar Alto (187.5km)
Stage 15: Alcalá la Real – Sierra Nevada-Alto Hoya de la Mora (129.4km)
Stage 16: Circuito de Navarra – Logroño (ITT - 40.2km)
Stage 20: Corvera de Asturias – Alto de l’Angliru (117.5km)
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