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Follow us on GoogleSpain is full of gruelling climbs. Some are tougher than others, but when it comes to pure legendary status, nothing beats the Alto de El Angliru. The “killer of Asturias” is often one of the decisive climbs in the Vuelta a España, but this dreaded ascent could very well become even tougher.
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Read more below the photo!
Enric Mas won the 2026 Vuelta a España
The Angliru is a 'new' climb, but already feared
While some climbs in the Grand Tours have been part of the route for a hundred years, the Angliru is still a relative newcomer.
It was first included in the Vuelta a España in 1999. José María Giménez won there, and the climb immediately gained a notorious reputation. It was included in the route again in 2000, and since then, the race has finished there eight more times.
The women’s race saw a first in 2026, when the Vuelta Femenina finished there for the first time. That’s where Anna van der Breggen suffered her downfall, losing the red jersey to Paula Blasi.
Will the Angliru be included in the 2027 Vuelta a España?
The organisers of the Vuelta a España are always looking for ways to make the race even more iconic—and even crazier.
José Antonio Muñiz, the former mayor of Riosa (where the Angliru is located), is now president of the Asociación Amigos del Angliru, or the Friends of the Angliru. And he presented Vuelta president Javier Guillén with a new proposal.
Read more below the photo!
Visma | LaB pulled off a masterstroke on the 2023 Angliru.
Sterrato on the Angliru?
Last year’s Vuelta a España featured a grueling, unpaved climb. It made for a spectacular show, with Tadej Pogacar being overtaken there by a flying Enric Mas.
And so Muñiz has new plans for the Angliru. That climb also has some gravel sections, which have always been left out until now. But now they might just be included in the course.
According to AS, there are reportedly two separate sections, totaling about three kilometers of unpaved roads. These are located halfway up the climb, after the first “less” difficult section and before the final five kilometers, when it gets really grueling.
Could the Vuelta change its mind? At the presentation of the plans, Director Guillén stated that the Angliru is already “on the verge of extreme difficulty,” but he certainly did not want to rule out the plan just yet.
“We’re open to all ideas,” he said. The route for the 2027 Vuelta a España will be unveiled in December. In all likelihood, the Angliru plans won’t be part of it yet. But who knows—it might become a reality in the future.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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