Slightly going uphill for a long time, after 75 kilometres in the saddle the grade increases. With 82.8 kilometres riders crest Alto de Santibañez de Ayllón and 17 kilometres they arrive on the peak Alto del Campanario, both 3rd category ascents. Next comes a rolling section of around 80 kilometres and then they are at the foot of the Puerto de la Quesera. In 10 kilometres they climbs to an elevation of 1,740 metres. The average gradient is 5.2%, with the first half being easiest while the steepest are the 5th, 6th and 8th, all three 7%. From the top its a 13 kilometres drop to the finish.
In the first kilometres to Riazza the road goes down at 6% to 7% on average, with steepest sections of 10%. With 5 kilometres left a short 500 metres climb at 5.7% might shake things up a little (probably not), and then the drop continues, only now at 3.5%. That grade gradually lessens until the last kilometre is merely a false flat down.
Results/race report stage 18, Vuelta 2015.
Vuelta 2015 stage 18: Route maps, height profile, and more
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