The first 50 kilometres are perfect to stretch the legs. Or to battle your way into the break away. The Alto de Mallecina and Alto de la Cabruñana are both 3rd category climbs.
The next 100 kilometres are something else. Following an extended false flat the Puerto de Marabio actually begins at kilometre 62. It is a grinding ascent of 19 kilometres with an average gradient of 4.8%.
Up next is the Alto de la Cobertoria, which is another slow burner. Again a prolonged false flat before the actual ascent of 8.1 kilometres goes up with an average gradient of 8.6%. The Cobertoria is a regular in La Vuelta. Pedro Delgado, Laurent Jalabert, Aleksandr Vinokoerov, Luis León Sánchez, Thomas De Gendt and Fränk Schleck – all these big names were the first rider over the summit in the past. In 2017, the peak was included in the heroic Angliru race during Alberto Contador’s last mountain stage.
A short and steep descent brings the riders to the foot of the mountain. La Cubilla links Asturias with its neighbouring region Leon. The 27 kilometres grind has an average gradient of 5% and a maximum of 10%.
Vuelta a España 2019 stage 16: route, elevation, more
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