Favorites stage 13 Vuelta a España 2025 | Steep climbing on the Beast of Asturias

The riders will set off at around noon (local time) on Friday in Cabezón de la Sal, from where they will have to cycle at least 202 kilometers to the summit of l'Angliru. For those who are undeterred, the flat opening phase of around 140 kilometers will provide ample time to attack and form an early breakaway: so far, only Kenny Elissonde (2013) has won on the Angliru in this way.

Fast forward to kilometer marker 147, with 55 kilometers remaining. That's where the final stage really begins, with the Alto la Mozqueta. This climb is 6.4 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 8.2 percent, which will take a heavy toll on the legs by the end of the day.

We then descend a relatively long slope to the next obstacle: the Alto del Cordal, a climb that almost always serves as a lead-up to the Angliru. Although the word ‘lead-up’ doesn't really do it justice, because 5.5 kilometers at 8.9 percent after 180 kilometers of pedaling is quite a serious challenge. Don't be surprised if Visma | Lease a Bike puts the pressure here to pile on the cumulative fatigue even further. The last 1.5 kilometers at 11 percent are particularly suitable for this.

There isn't much time for recovery either, because from the top of the Cordal to the foot of the Angliru it's barely eight kilometers down a steep descent. The first sections of the grueling final climb are relatively easy with gradients of around 8 to 9 percent, compared to what awaits later on.

From kilometer six of the climb, it climbs for six kilometers at an average gradient of 13.4% (!!!), before the last 300 meters are slightly downhill. No wonder David Millar stopped just before the finish line in 2002 in protest and uttered the legendary words, “We are not animals, this is inhuman.”

Nevertheless, the Vuelta, which first finished on the Angliru in 1999, has returned to the climb six times since then, and now seven times. That's not surprising, with legendary duels and winners such as Roberto Heras, Alberto Contador, and Primoz Roglic. In 2023, the Slovenian stayed ahead of his Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard, who made his definitive breakthrough on this climb in 2020, and Sepp Kuss.

Climbs
153,6 km: Alto La Mozqueta (6,4 km a 8,2%)
181,6 km: Alto del Cordal (5,5 km a 8,9%)
202,7 km: L'Angliru (12,4 km a 9,8%)

Times
Start: 12:10 PM local time (06:10 AM EDT)
Finish: 5:10 PM local time (11:10 AM EDT)

By Angliru's standards, the weather conditions on Friday are excellent. It will be 14 degrees, with occasional sunshine, and we usually don't have to deal with much rain or wind.

Jonas Vingegaard has fond memories of the Angliru, but has not yet been able to win here. In 2020, the Dane made his definitive breakthrough as Primoz Roglic's adjutant, taking the Slovenian and Sepp Kuss along with him and limiting the losses to Richard Carapaz. The last time we visited the Angliru, in 2023, he left the victory to Roglic.

Normally, this is the day that Visma | Lease a Bike has marked to deliver the final blow to its rivals, so we don't see many opportunities for an early breakaway. Top climbers such as Jay Vine, Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates-XRG), Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana), and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) really need to start the final climb with a lead.

The most obvious scenario is therefore that the GC contenders will go for it on the Beast of Asturias. After Vingegaard, Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) are currently making the best impression, which is also translating into a virtual podium place. The Portuguese rider finished sixth on the climb in 2023, which Pidcock, as a mountain biker, should also be able to handle.

The Angliru is a climb that lends itself perfectly to pure climbers. Riders such as Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R) and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) will view this climb as an opportunity to gain time on some of their rivals. However, the top ten in this Tour of Spain consists entirely of good climbers.

However, the gap between them and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) or former red jersey wearer Torstein Traaen (Bahrain Victorious) is greater than that between them and Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), who also enjoy climbs like this.  

Top favorites: Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Outsiders: Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG), Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R) and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech)
Long shots: Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike), Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS-Astana), Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious)