Vuelta 2019 Route stage 16: Pravia

Vuelta 2019 Route stage 16: Pravia - Alto de la Cubilla

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Monday 9 September - The 16th stage of La Vuelta a España precedes the second rest day. Two intermediate climbs and the long and unprecedented Alto de la Cubilla mark this 144.4 kilometres race.

The first 50 kilometres are perfect to stretch the legs. Or to battle your way into the breakaway. Following the start the 16th stage of La Vuelta serves a sheer endless false flat to the first proper uphill stretches. The Puerto de San Lorenzo kicks in at kilometre 50. It is a grinding ascent of 10 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.5%.

Up next is the Alto de la Cobertoria, which is another slow burner. Again a prolonged false flat before the actual ascent of 8.3 kilometres goes up with an average gradient of 8.2%. The Cobertoria is a regular in La Vuelta. Pedro Delgado, Laurent Jalabert, Aleksandr Vinokoerov, Luis León Sánchez, Thomas De Gendt and Fränk Schleck – all these big names did crest the peak in first position. In 2017, the ascent was included in the heroic Angliru race during Alberto Contador’s last mountain stage.

A short and steep descent brings the riders to the foot of the last mountain. Alto de la Cubilla links Asturias with its neighbouring region León. A 16 kilometres false flat precedes the actual climb. The Cubilla is a 17.8 kilometres grind with an average gradient of 6.2%.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint (10 kilometres before the Cubilla climb) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Another interesting read: results/race report 2019 Vuelta a España.