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Vuelta 2018 stage 15:Ribera del Arriba - Lagos de Covadonga
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09-09-2018 11:49am#1Vuelta 2018 stage 15: Ribera del Arriba - Lagos de Covadonga 178.2 km start 12.44 CET
The route of the 15th stage of La Vuelta travels from Ribera del Arriba to the iconic summit finish at Lagos de Covadonga. At 178.2 kilometres, the course is extremely hilly.
With 20 kilometres done the route crosses the Alto de Santo Emiliano after a 6.9 kilometres climb at 4.2%. Following the descent the riders continue on a string of non-classified hills to the Mirador del Fito. This viewpoint is crested two times – first at kilometre 100.1 and again at kilometre 137.6. It is an irregular ascent with the last 4.4 kilometres averaging a whooping 9.3%. Mirador del Fito offers a wide view over both the Picos de Europa and the coastline of the Cantabrian Sea.
The second passage of the Mirador del Fito is with almost 41 kilometres remaining. The first 10 kilometres are on descent before a nasty unclassified climb appears. For 4.7 kilometres the route climbs to San Martín de Bada. The average slope is 4.3%, so it comes across as tolerable – yet, the climb is pepped up with ramps much harder than that. As if to prepare the riders for what’s in store…
A 5 kilometres drop leads to 10 kilometres on the flat before the riders tackle the final haul up to the line. Lagos de Covadonga did serve twenty times as a summit finish in the Vuelta a España. If you think of the first inclusion, in 1983, it’s clear that the ascent to the lakes has become one of the Spanish Grand Tour’s favourite climbs.
And rightly so. The scenery is spectacular and the same goes for the climb. The distance is 12.2 kilometres and the average gradient 7.2% – nothing special, one could argue. Yet, it is an average. Some 4 kilometres up the mountain the riders face a 800 metres stretch at 15% and along the way double digit sectors alternate with small drops. The last kilometre, for instance, starts on descent before the route ramps up to 7.5% in the last 200 metres.
There is only one side to ascend Lagos de Covadonga. Since the climb debuted in 1983 a string of renowned riders have won here, including Marino Lejaretta, Pedro Delgado, Laurent Jalabert and Luis Herrera. Two years ago Nairo Quintana climbed to victory on the beautiful slopes.
Mirador del Fito climb first time
Mirador del Fito climb second time
Lagos de Covadonga
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retalivity wrote: »Roche up the road again
Hopefully he will do better today ...coudnt follow Kwaito yesterday at the end
Said 20 days racing this year coming into the Vuelta has scuppered him...needs to do alot more plus Kwaito changes of rythm too much
But probably will get better as race goes on
Mind you I remember Covadonga stage in 2012 when Nico came to a halt in the middle of the highway leading to turn of to the top ...stopped dead in the middle of the road!!!....lets hope that doesn't happen today
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that surface at the finish looks pure ****e
It's just that little section. The surface on the rest of the climb is lovely and smooth. When doing the segment the Vuelta uses on the climb, you descend down by Lago Enol and hang a left to the finish line about 300m away which has one last vicious kick hitting close to 20%. Most people climbing up there don't hang left but continue up another rise and finish their spin at Lago Ercina where there is a lovely cafe with fantastic donuts and eclairs.
The climb itself from the basilica is a fairly regular 9-10% til it hits la Huesera (The Boneyard) where it averages 12% for about a kilometer maxing at 15. Then there's a brief respite before kicking up hard again by the Mirador del Réina where Quintana attacked 2 years ago before a sharp descent and another kick up for over a km til cresting above Lago Enol. At this stage it is realistically the end of the climbing as the last 100m is just a burst for the line
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