Vuelta 2025 Route stage 14: Avilés

Vuelta 2025 Route stage 14: Avilés – La Farrapona

Saturday, 6 September - Stage 14 of La Vuelta wraps up a gruelling two-day outing in the rugged mountains of Asturias. Over 135 kilometres, the riders head from Avilés to the summit of the Alto de la Farrapona. The finish climb stretches for 16.5 kilometres at 6.2%, with the final 5 kilometres ramping up to double digits.

The last time the Vuelta visited Avilés was back in 2013. The peloton rolled out of the Asturian port city to head or the Angliru. That day, Kenny Elissonde, just 22 years old, stunned the cycling world by taking the win. It turned out to be both the biggest and, arguably, the only major highlight of his career.

This time, the riders head to the Alto de la Farrapona, located roughly 40 kilometres south of the Angliru as the crow flies. Along the way, they’ll warm up on the Alto Tenebreo before taking on the Puerto de San Lorenzo – a 10-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 8.6%.

After a fast descent, the grand finale awaits. The Alto de la Farrapona is 16.5 kilometres long with an average gradient of 6.2%, but it’s far from a straightforward climb. The gradients fluctuate wildly, with a short downhill section after 7 kilometres, while the final 5 kilometres are a punishing grind, averaging over 10%.

La Farrapona is nestled in the Somiedo Natural Park, a stunning backdrop for what promises to be a dramatic finish. The last time La Vuelta reached the summit was in 2020. That day, the race came down to a duel between the strongest breakaway riders, David Gaudu and Marc Soler. The Frenchman dominated the sprint to take the win.

Back in 2014, La Farrapona hosted an epic battle for the red jersey between Alberto Contador and Chris Froome. The Brit set the pace for most of the climb, but El Pistolero launched an attack in the final kilometre, taking the stage win with a 14-second lead. That victory paved the way for Contador’s overall triumph that year.