Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 15: Iconic winner at Lagos de Covadonga

Whether or not we actually are going to get an iconic winner in the 15th stage of La Vuelta remains to be seen - yet, it would be nice. The final climb to 'Los Lagos' is a classic arrival in the Spanish Grand Tour. Two years ago, Nairo Quintana climbed to victory at the lakes before he went on to win the overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

The Colombian attacked with Alberto Contador and 4 kilometres before the top he left the Spaniard behind. Quintana gobbled up early attacker Robert Gesink with 2.5 kilometres to go and soloed to victory. He took La Roja that day and wore it all the way to Madrid.

The 15th stage of the 2018 edition is one of three tough days in the Asturian mountains. The race travels over four KOM climbs, but there are plenty of non-classified uphills also. The Mirador del Fito is crested twice. The last time up is with 40 kilometres remaining. Firstly a 10 kilometres descent before the organisation thought it wise to bring yet another non-classified hill into the mix. The route climbs for 4.7 kilometres at 4.3% to the village San Martín de Bada. That statistic is biased though, as the climb is extremely irregular with ramps up to 10%. Possibly, the breakaway will end up fragmented on these slopes.

Following the descent the route slopes slightly for 10 kilometres before the ascent to the Lagos de Covadonga kicks in. The 12.2 kilometres toil is averaging 7.2%, but that’s yet another biased statistic as double digit ramps are scattered about the climb. Its steepest stretch? 20%!

Favourites 15th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

*** Nairo Quintana, Simon Yates, Miguel Ángel López, Steven Kruijswijk
** Alejandro Valverde, Wilco Kelderman, Rigoberto Uran, Thibaut Pinot, Enric Mas
* Vincenzo Nibali, Ilnur Zakarin, Bauke Mollema, Rafal Majka, Dylan Teuns