The last mountain stage of the 2017 Vuelta a España starts in Corvera, a place in Asturias near Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés. Once the flag is dropped the riders tackle Alto La Reigada, a 12.7 kilometres climb to stretch the legs. Following the descent the route continues on a rolling false flat for about 50 kilometres until they hit the Alto de Cobertoria, which is a 8.1 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 8.6%. Straight after the drop it goes back up again on the short and steep Alto de Cordal. This 5.7 kilometres ascent is averaging 8.6%, while the steepest ramp of 12% comes 1 kilometre before the top.
Still, the worst/best is yet to come: Alto de El Angliru. The closing climb of 12.5 kilometres comes with an average gradient of 9.8%, while the steepest ramps are 23.5%.
Actually there are three Angliru’s. The first 5 kilometres go up at 8% and following a relatively flat kilometre the rest of the mountain is pure horror. Believe it or not, the second half of the climb is cursed/blessed with an average gradient of 15%. Riders face the steepest sector of 23.5% – aptly named Cueña les Cabres (goat path) – with 3 kilometres remaining.
In the 2013 Vuelta the Angliru stage was won Kenny Elissonde. Other victors on this mountain of horror are Juan José Cobo (2011), Alberto Contador (2008), Roberto Heras (2002), Gilberto Simoni (2002) and José María Jiménez (1999).
The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint (at kilometre 89.5) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Read also: results/race report 20th stage 2017 Vuelta.
Vuelta 2017 stage 20: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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Climb details Alto de la Cobertoria
Climb details Alto del Cordal
Climb details Alto de l’Angliru
Final kilometres
Route and profile Angliru
Streetview Angliru
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