Vuelta 2024 Favourites stage 16: Battle for red at iconic finish

foto: Cor VosThe riders traverse two big mountains in the 16th stage of La Vuelta before the iconic finish climb to the Lagos de Covadonga kicks in. The stage features 4,000 metres of climbing, and the ascent to the line is an absolute killer. A GC clash is the most likely, and certainly the most anticipated, scenario. (Slideshow route/profile)

Apart from two intermediate climbs, the riders have plenty more uphill action to tackle along the way. It kicks off right from the start and continues with inclines of 5 kilometres at 3.7% (after 36 kilometres) and 4.9 kilometres at 3.4% (after 58 kilometres). The latter precedes the Mirador del Fito, which is the first KOM with 2 kilometres of double-digit gradients in the middle. The Mirador del Fito totals 7.1 kilometres and averages 7.9%.

After the descent, the Alto de Bada throws in 4.3 kilometres at 5.4%, followed by a false flat of 20 kilometres leading up to the base of the Collada Llomena. Which is an even tougher task than the Fito: 7.6 kilometres at 9.3%, and again with the steepest 2 kilometres (at 11.3% this time) in the middle.

Upon cresting the Collada Llomena, there’s still over 56 kilometres to go. Mostly downhill – first steep, then false flat – to Cangas de Onis, and about 10 kilometres later, the ascent to the Lakes of Covadonga begins.

The 12.5 kilometres climb to ‘Los Lagos’ combines beauty with horror. The scenery is spectacular, but the gradients are insane. At 6.9%, the average tilt might not look too intimidating, but it’s the irregularity that’s doing the damage. The first half climbs relatively steadily – constantly hovering around 10% -, after which the second half alternates short descents with ramps up to 20%, making it impossible to find a rhythm.

With this stage kicking off the final week of the Vuelta, the GC contenders are likely to go for each other’s throats. Whether they’ll also go for the stage win is another story, although we’re hoping they go all in for both: the stage win and the leader’s jersey. Like Roglic did three years ago: he won, took the red jersey, and kept it until the end of the race.

Favourites 16th stage 2024 Vuelta a España

*** Primoz Roglic, Enric Mas, Carlos Rodriguez
** Mattias Skjelmose, Jay Vine, Michael Woods, Max Poole
* George Bennett, Louis Meintjes, Sam Oomen, Marc Soler, Eddie Dunbar

Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2024 Vuelta.