The Tour of Spain enters its decisive week with everything to be decided in the absence of the last six stages to be played. After the general classification cyclists did not challenge themselves directly in the days in Pico Villuercas and the Sierra de Gredos, now they will have no choice but to measure themselves on the demanding ramps of the always hard ports of Asturias, with the mythical Lakes and the colossus Gamoniteiru as judges, the ‘mini Liège’ prepared by Óscar Pereiro on the way to Mos and the final time of Santiago. We review below which will be the stages that will decide the winner of La Vuelta 2021.
Stage 17: Unquera – Lagos de Covadonga (185.8 kilometers, Wednesday, September 1)
La Vuelta recovers one of the mythical finals par excellence, the Lakes of Covadonga, in a typical day of the great Asturian days, marked by very hard ports. The climb to Altu de Hortigueru (3rd, 5.3 kilometers at 4.7%) could lead to the formation of leaks before reaching the first step up La Collada Llomena, first class with its 7.6 kilometers at 9 , 3% and ramps up to 14%. After its descent, the cyclists will once again ascend this pass which, in its second step, will have a bonus at the top. A demanding port that could make a selection in the peloton before the final ascent to the Lakes of Covadonga, a Special category port with its 12.5 kilometers at 6.9% and ramps of up to 16% in which a great battle between favorites to open differences.
Stage 18: Salas – Altu d’El Gamoniteiru (162.6 kilometers, Thursday, September 2)
It is, possibly, the queen stage of this edition in La Vuelta, which will finally visit the top of Gamoniteiru, a claim of many cycling fans. The day will already be demanding from the beginning with the climb to the tough Puertu de San Llaurienzu, first class with its 9.9 kilometers at 8.6% and peaks of up to 16%. As if this were not enough, a second mythical port of Asturias awaits the runners shortly after, the Altu de La Cobertoria, first class, with its 7.9 kilometers at 8.6% and four final kilometers in which the slope barely drop of 9%. A rapid descent will take cyclists to La Vega but, this time, not to climb Angliru, but to climb Alto del Cordal, with its 12.2 kilometers at 3.8%. A fast and always dangerous descent from this pass will take cyclists to the foot of the final colossus, the unprecedented Alto d’El Gamoniteiru, a Special category port with its 14.6 kilometers of 9.8% ascent that will show its hardness to the world. with five kilometers almost from the beginning in which the slope does not drop by 11% and another three final kilometers in which the ramps do not go down from 10% before a ramp to 17%. Without a doubt, a colossus that seems to have come to stay in La Vuelta and that could break the overall.
Stage 20: Sanxenxo – Mos, Castro de Herville (202 kilometers, Saturday, September 4)
The final fireworks of the Vuelta en Galicia begins with a track worthy of a classic in which the favorites could accuse the fatigue of the three weeks of racing and the fatigue of the Lakes or the Gamoniteiru in a ‘mini Liège’ designed by a champion of the Tour as Óscar Pereiro. The first 100 kilometers are ideal for escapes or ambushes before entering the last 100, with up to five scoring ports: Alto de Vilachán (3rd, 6.5 km. At 5.4%); the Alto de Mabia (2nd, 6 km. at 5.7%); the Alto de Mougás, first class with its 9.8 kilometers at 6.4%); Alto de Prado (2nd, 5.5 km. at 6.3%) and the final climb to Alto Casttro de Herville, in Mos, second category with its 9.7 kilometers at 4.8% with sections up to 16%, in which it is presented as the last attempt for climbers to gain time for the general.
Stage 21: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (Time Trial, 33.8 kilometers, Sunday, September 5)
The Vuelta de las Catedrales, which came out of the Burgos Cathedral, will crown its new champion in front of another cathedral, that of Santiago de Compostela. It will do so after recovering the time trial format for the last stage, which could be decisive in the event that the mountain days have not already sentenced the race. Despite having some steep slopes, especially in the intermediate section of the race and at the start of Bertamiráns, the track is ideal for great riders such as the Olympic time trial champion Primoz Roglic who, if he manages to bridge the differences on the mountain, could sentence the race on the final day in search of his third title in the Tour of Spain after a final week that is very exciting.