After a flat opening the riders get a first taste of the final climb at kilometre 24. The Vuelta tackles the Alto de Acebo twice in the 15th stage. The first ascent is 7.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.3%. At an elevation of 970 metres the crest is reached.
A prolonged false flat leads to the next climb. The Puerto del Connio begins in the small village Ventanueva and climbs for 13.3 kilometres at 4.5%. The riders then fly down a long descent to San Antolín de Ibias.
It does not take long for the third mountain to introduce itself. Puerto del Pozo de las Mujeres Muertas is an irregular climb of 18 kilometres. The average gradient is 4.7%, which is a misleading statistic. The climb serves a dizzying mix of false flats, double digit sectors and short descents.
A 31 kilometres flies back down to Cangas de Narcea. It is today’s third passage in the oldest municipality of Asturias and this time the following climb is going to be decisive. It goes all the way to the Santuario del Acebo’s highest point at 1,170 metres. This makes for an 11 kilometres climb with an average gradient of 7.2%. The steepest ramps are 16%, while the fifth kilometre is merely a false flat.
Vuelta a España 2019 stage 15: route, elevation, more
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