Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 11: Hilly race with trying finale

At 207.8 kilometres, the Vuelta a España's 11th stage is a hilly race with a tricky finale. With 5.6 kilometres remaining the riders tackle the Pombar, a 2 kilometres climb with a 7.5% slope, where the current GC leader Simon Yates attacked to solo to victory in 2016. (Slideshow route/profile)

The Pombar is crested with 3.6 kilometres remaining. Following its peak the route continues on the flat before the riders fly down the hill to a 500 metres false flat run-in the line.

Actually, the finale is similar to the stage itself, as the route is trying from start to finish. Following the departure in Mombuey the course takes the KOM climbs up the Puerto de Padornelo, Alto de Covelo, Alto de Trives and Alto del Mirador de Cabezoas and a host of non-classified hills. No insane slopes though, the average gradients hover between 3 and 4%, while the Cabezoas is the longest drag up. The 15.5 kilometres climb is crested 17.8 kilometres before the line.

As said, Yates takes attacked on the Pombar. He gobbled up breakaway boy Mathias Frank and soloed to victory. Yet, it is far from impossible that the break lasts until the line this time…

Favourites 11th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

*** Bauke Mollema, Michal Kwiatkowski, Davide Formolo, Dylan Teuns
** Simon Yates, Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde, Wilco Kelderman
* Valerio Conti, Mark Padun, Omar Fraile, Davide Villella