Vuelta a España - Stage 14: September 13 - Grenada - La Pandera, 157km
Gold today means overall title could be close
Proycling's Analysis: It seems that, like buses, mountain stages come in threes this year. This is the easiest of the trio, but there’s a hellish test at the end. The Pandera is one of the stupidly hard climbs that the race organisers have deliberately sought out in recent years. During the final 7km there are numerous steep pitches and a whole kilometre at more than 12 per cent.
Culture Vulture: A key emirate in the Moorish empire, Granada’s renowned Alhambra palace and fortress rises high above the town.
Local hero: Jaén’s Javi Moreno will want to make an impact heading into his hometown. The 25-year-old rider finished 21st in his debut last year.
Vuelta Retro: This is the fourth visit to the Pandera. The three previous winners have all ended up with clouds of suspicion over their achievements – Roberto Heras, Alejandro Valverde and Kazakh Andrei Kashechkin in 2006.
Neil Stephens says: Alejandro Valverde has won here twice. Two times he has raced here, and both times he has won. Obviously it's suited to him. It's not just the climb to the finish that's difficult but all day, it's bloody hard. It's up and down all day - I don't know if the profile map shows it but in reality it's definitely up and down all day.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Drawing a line in the gravel - Will anti-drafting rules create structure or friction in Life Time Grand Prix competitions?
Lauren De Crescenzo shares thoughts on enforcement and punishment for new regulations to make races 'more fair' -
Women's cycling's road captains – who are they, how important are they, and what makes a good one?
'If they're waiting for the car, it's too late' – we hear from the riders leading their teams and keeping cool in those split-decision moments -
Ronde van Limburg: Milan Fretin fends off rivals on teammate's bike to win chaotic bunch sprint
Cofidis secure fifth triumph of 2025 with local rider Fretin -
Giro d'Abruzzo: Late attack by Ivo Oliveira lands UAE Team Emirates-XRG back-to-back wins on stage 2
UAE celebrate 29th win of 2025 but Alessandro Covi cedes race lead to Filippo Fiorelli