Alto de l'Angliru

Where it is

The Angliru is a paved cattle path in the Sierra del Aramo in Asturias, northern Spain, southeast of Oviedo. The Vuelta a España first climbed it in 1999 specifically to give the race a climb that could match the Mortirolo for cruelty.

What makes it iconic

The first six kilometres are relatively benign — five to six percent through forested switchbacks. Then the gradient explodes. From km 6 to km 9 the road averages 13 percent and ramps to over 20 percent at the section called Cueña les Cabres, where the official maximum gradient is 23.5 percent. The road is barely wide enough for two cars and the surface is concrete in places to prevent the asphalt sliding off the mountain.

Race history

Angliru has hosted Vuelta finishes seven times, beginning in 1999 when Pavel Tonkov won and José María Jiménez took control of the race. Roberto Heras won twice. Cobo's 2011 win was later annulled for doping. The 2017 stage saw Froome and Contador go head-to-head; Contador, in his last grand tour, took the stage on home roads.

Pacing

There is no pacing for the Cueña les Cabres section. Use 34x34 or lower if you have it. Below those gearings, recreational riders walk. Eat aggressively before the steep section — once you are above 15 percent, your stomach will not accept anything new. Many riders zig-zag on the steepest pitches; this is fine if there is no traffic, but watch behind.

Practical notes

The Angliru is closed to motor traffic on certain days. The road surface is uneven and slippery when wet — wet descents are genuinely dangerous. Treat the descent with caution; some teams have their riders walk down on race day.