Date: Friday 5 September
Distance: 203km
Start: Cabezón de la Sal
Finish: Alto de l’Angliru
Start time: 11:50 CEST
Estimated finish: 17:14 CEST
The Angliru’s Place in Cycling Mythology
The Vuelta a España may not have the century-old legends of the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia, but over the past two decades, one climb has emerged as its defining battleground: the Alto de l’Angliru. First introduced in 1999, its savage gradients and unpredictable weather have already written stories worthy of cycling folklore. With an average gradient of 9.7% over 12.4km, including a nightmarish 6km stretch at 13%, it is a mountain that humbles even the best climbers.
From Controversy to Glory
The Angliru has been a stage for drama and heartbreak. In 2002, torrential rain turned the ascent into chaos, culminating in David Millar’s infamous protest when he stopped a metre short of the line. Fast forward to 2017, and the climb provided the perfect farewell for Alberto Contador, who bowed out of professional cycling with a fairytale stage win cheered on by ecstatic fans. More recently, the mountain hosted a very different spectacle: in 2020, Hugh Carthy triumphed on eerily silent slopes due to pandemic restrictions, while in 2023, Jumbo-Visma nearly imploded as Vingegaard and Roglič tested Sepp Kuss on his birthday, only for the American to cling on and later win the Vuelta.
Stage 13 Odds
| Rider | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jonas Vingegaard | 1.53 |
| Joao Almeida | 7.00 |
| Tom Pidcock | 10.00 |
| Jay Vine | 13.00 |
| Felix Gall | 23.00 |
| Jai Hindley | 26.00 |
| Juan Ayuso | 26.00 |
| David Gaudu | 34.00 |
| Giulio Ciccone | 41.00 |
| Matthew Riccitello | 41.00 |
| Santiago Buitrago | 41.00 |
| Sepp Kuss | 41.00 |
| Eddie Dunbar | 51.00 |
| Lorenzo Fortunato | 51.00 |
| Wout Poels | 51.00 |
| Marc Soler | 67.00 |
| Mikel Landa | 67.00 |
| Pablo Castrillo | 67.00 |
A Harder Test in 2025
This year’s edition promises to be even more punishing. Unlike past Angliru stages, which were often short and explosive, stage 13 stretches to 203km—making it one of the longest in recent memory. Before the final ascent, riders must tackle the category-one Alto de Mosquera and Alto del Cordal. These climbs will sap the legs, ensuring that by the time the peloton hits the Angliru’s brutal ramps, the battle will be about survival as much as ambition.
The Key Contenders
Red jersey leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) starts as the favourite, his consistency and dominance in the mountains marking him as the rider to beat. Yet challengers are lurking. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), impressive on stage 11, are poised to test him. Expect fireworks from climbers like Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss (Visma), and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek).
Dark Horses and Breakaway Threats
The Angliru’s brutality often rewards audacity. Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) and Belgium’s rising star Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step) could seize the spotlight. Breakaway specialists also loom large: Juan Ayuso, Jay Vine, and Marc Soler (UAE) are all threats, while David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) may relish the freedom of lost GC time. Other names to watch include Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana), Javier Romo and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla), Kevin Vermaerke (Team Picnic PostNL), and the ever-dangerous Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step).
A Stage for Legends
Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España 2025 is more than just another day in the mountains—it is a test that could define the entire race. The Angliru has the power to crush dreams, but it also has the magic to elevate riders into the realm of legends. By the end of Friday, we will know who dared to conquer its unforgiving slopes, and whose hopes were left shattered on its brutal gradients.