Vuelta a España: Stage 10
Parcours preview
Distance: 175.5km
Category: High mountains
Highest point: 1,680m
There may have been plenty of climbs on the route so far but this stage marks a bit step up in terms of height, difficulty and intensity. The two key tests come in the final quarter of the stage. The Monachil last featured in 2009 and is best remembered as the pass where Cadel Evans punctured and, he still believes, lost that year's Vuelta because he failed to get a spare wheel promptly. This time it's the precursor to a new climb that could quickly assume the same legendary status as the Angliru. Although the riders will only be tackling the first 7km of this long ascent, the first 5km averages 11 per cent. By the two that follow the GC contenders will be very evident.
José Azevedo: "The first half is straightforward but then come two tough GPMs. The first will produce a selection. The final climb is not so long but it's very steep, so this will be an important day for the GC contenders as it is the first big test of their condition."
Don't forget to download the Cyclingnews Tour Tracker mobile app for live coverage of the Vuelta!
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling. He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014).
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'The season is longer than Sunday' - Team downplay panic in Belgium over Wout van Aert's long odds for Tour of Flanders
'Roubaix is also important' say Visma-Lease a Bike as team look further down the road -
What's coming on Cyclingnews this April
A monumental month of racing awaits, plus a clothing lab test, and an inside look at the world of rider agents -
'The team is very strong' - Narváez and Vermeersch join Tadej Pogačar for Tour of Flanders
Nils Politt, Mikkel Bjerg and Tim Wellens also in seven-rider squad to back world champion -
'I really want to make this season a strong one' - Ethan Vernon eyes Scheldeprijs before big end of season goals
The British rider set to race the Critérium du Dauphiné, British National Championships and Tour de Pologne in preparation for the Vuelta a España