News
Road

Cuesta helps NetApp-Endura recon the Vuelta a Espana climbs

By Susan Westemeyer

published 17 August 2013

German ProConti team preparing for its second Grand Tour

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Image 1 of 8

Team NetApp-Endura experiences climbing with little visibility(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

A NetApp-Endura rider checks out the Spanish fog(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

Team NetApp-Endura faces l'Angliru for the first time(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

Team NetApp-Endura prepares to climb(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

Iker Camano, Inigo Cuesta, David de la Cruz, Leo Koenig, Jose Mendes, and Alex Sans Vega prepare for NetApp-Endura's Vuelta debut(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

David de la Cruz (NetApp-Endura) recons for the Vuelta a Espana(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

This NetApp-Endura rider disappears into the Spanish fog(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

A Team NetApp-Endura rider heads uphill(Image credit: Team NetApp-Endura)

Team NetApp-Endura is preparing for its first Vuelta a Espana with the help of former pro Inigo Cuesta, who has ridden the race 17 times, more than any other rider. He is helping the climbers from the German Professional Continental team recon the mountain stages.

Vuelta wildcards: NetApp grateful, IAM disappointed

NetApp-Endura ready to tackle first Criterium du Dauphine

NetApp-Endura riders eager for climbs in Tour of Poland

Heppner and NetApp-Endura part ways

Cuesta, who is also a technical director for the Vuelta, is covering such climbs as the Alto Nuranco, Pene Cabarga and the Alto de l'Anglriu in Asturien and the Coll de la Gallina and the Col de Peyresourde in the Pyrenees, with NetApp-Endura climbers Leo König, Jose Mendes, Iker Camaño and David de la Cruz.

"It’s a spectacular course that will deliver an interesting race, and the outcome will remain open until the final days,” Cuesta said. “The favorites for the general classification won't have a moment of rest. But I expect an open race, in which not only the favourites but also other riders will show something.”

This year's Vuelta features 13 mountaintop finishes, with the Angliru and its gradient up to 20% providing the finish on the penultimate stage.

"I think the stage in Andorra and the next day in the Pyrenees will deliver the decision in terms of the general classification,” team sport director Alex Sans Vega said. “But if the time margins among the upper rankings are a bit wider, we’ll see a very exciting race in Asturias. Our riders will have lots of opportunities to show their strengths in the mountains.”

One of those riders is Leo König, who won the Queen stage at this year's Tour of California and is eager to tackle the Vuelta as his first Grand Tour.

"I will be gathering experience at the Vuelta,“ König told Cyclingnews. "So I will see how it goes from stage to stage. The race has a lot of very hard days, but also a lot of possibilities."