Vuelta 2023 Favourites stage 18: Last high mountain stage

As usual with Vuelta stages, the elevation gain is not limited to the KOM climbs. There are plenty of intermediate hills that will add to the fatigue. Which is sure to have an impact on how the race unfolds after almost three weeks of relentless action.

In terms of the stage honours, it’ll come down to a finishing circuit with two times the same mountain. The riders have conquered the Alto de las Estacas (5.1 kilometres at 7.5%), Puerto de San Lorenzo (9.9 kilometres at 8.6%) and Alto de Tenebredo (3.4 kilometres at 9.5%) in the run-up – and now, with 33 kilometres remaining, it’s time to get down to business.

The finishing circuit features a double ascent of the Puerto de la Cruz de Linares. Which is a two-faced climb, as the first 4.8 kilometres go up at 10.3% before it levels off considerably. The Cruz de Linares totals 8.3 kilometres and the average gradient sits at 8.6%.

Favourites 18th stage 2023 Vuelta a España

*** Primoz Roglic, Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard
** Mikel Landa, Sepp Kus, Wout Poels, Romain Bardet, Hugh Carthy
* Marc Soler, Michael Storer, Geraint Thomas, Lennert Van Eetvelt

Another interesting read: route 18th stage 2023 Vuelta.

Vuelta a España 2023 stage 18: profiles & finish route

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profile

San Lorenzo

Cruz de Linares

finish