The 2018 Vuelta a Espana gets underway on Saturday, and between Málaga and Madrid there's no shortage of important days in the battle for the red jersey. Cyclingnews takes a look at the five stages that could have the biggest impact on the crowning of the overall winner in just over three weeks' time.
Stage 9: Talavera de la Reina - La Covatilla, 200.8km
The Vuelta wouldn't be the Vuelta without an abundance of climbs, but while the finish at the Caminito del Rey on stage 2 and the debut summit finish on the Puerto de Alfacar two days later should provide some early excitement, the first major encounter in the battle for the red jersey is reserved for the very end of the first week.
Stage 9, which precedes the first rest day, takes in the first-category Puerto del Pico and two more climbs in the first half of the 200km parcours, but the focus is squarely on the hors-catégorie ascent to the ski station at La Covatilla. The climb has featured five times since making its Vuelta debut in 2002, with its last appearance coming in 2011, when Dan Martin triumphed ahead of Bauke Mollema. Joaquim Rodríguez lost nearly a minute, so Mollema moved into the overall lead, while Juan José Cobo, Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins – the final podium – all finished in the top five within a few seconds of each other.
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The climb is 9.8km long with an average gradient of 7 per cent, though gradients of up to 14 per cent are to be found nearer the top. In plotting the Vuelta route, race director Javier Guillén envisaged a "gentler" start and an intense final week. Reaching more than 200 kilometres in distance, almost 2,000 metres of altitude, and more than 3,500 metres of elevation gain, this is the first real showdown of the 2018 Vuelta and should provide an indication of who might – and who won't – be standing on the podium in Madrid two weeks later.
Stage 15: Ribera de Arriba - Lagos de Covadonga, 178.2km
Stage 16: Santillana del Mar - Torrelavega (individual time trial), 32km
Stage 17: Getxo - Monte Oiz/Balcon de Bizkaia, 157km
Stage 20: Escaldes-Engordany - Coll de la Gallina (Andorra), 97.3km
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-espana-2018-5-key-stages
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