A GC rider won’t be losing sleep over this finale, especially with much harder finishes in store over the coming days. It’s next to certain that the breakaway will ride for the win.
So, a huge battle for the break is to be expected. Following an undulating opening, the riders hit the bottom of a 2.9 kilometres climb at 6.5% after 21 kilometres. It’s the perfect spot for the break to form, although chances are the fireworks won’t be over at the top. Aftar all, it’s a short ascent.
The route then serves up some 40 kilometres with gentle ups and downs leading to the base of the Alto de Rivas de Tereso. The 11.1 kilometres climb at 3.4% looks set to form the launchpad for the day’s breakaway.
The next phase of the race takes place on rolling terrain – with a 900 metres ramp at 7.9% standing out – before Puerto de Herrera could be used to weed out the weaker climbers in the break. It’s an ascent of 5.6 kilometres at 8.3%, with several sections hitting double digits.
Once over the top, there’s still 45 kilometres left to race. The descent then leads onto a 2.9 kilometres climb at 4.6%, before a steady downhill stretch of around 15 kilometres precedes an uphill drag at shallow gradients, leading to the final 10 kilometres.
A short descent takes the riders to a 2.3 kilometres climb at 5.1%. From there, it’s a straightforward downhill to the finish line.
Favourites 18th stage 2024 Vuelta a España
*** Kasper Asgreen, Victor Campenaerts, Mauro Schmid, Harold Tejada
** Brandon McNulty, Quinten Hermans, Jhonathan Narváez, Oier Lazkano
* Filippo Zana, Mauri Vansevenant, Stefan Küng, Luca Vergallito, Quentin Pacher
Another interesting read: route 18th stage 2024 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2024 stage 18: route & profiles
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