Vuelta a España stage 13 preview - Moment of truth on the mighty Angliru

Key Information

• Date: Friday, 5 September
• Start: 11:50 (CET)
• Expected finish: 17:14 (CET)
• Stage type: Mountain
• Stage length: 202.7km
• Elevation gain: 3,964m

This will have been highlighted by many as the key stage of the 2025 Vuelta a España and its easy to understand why when you delve into the route.

Many will have laser-sharp focus on the summit finish on the Angliru, but another important aspect of this stage that may have flown under the radar is the length. Stage 13 is a whopping 202.7km, making it the second-longest stage of this edition of the Vuelta. 

Cabezón de la Sal makes its debut hosting the start of a Vuelta stage, but has featured in previous editions with the race passing through the town.

Given that it is such a long stage on the menu, the first 100km of the route profile looks pan-flat, dwarfed by the three major mountains to come. However, as is the case in most Vuelta stages, the roads are on deceptively rolling terrain, and although it may not cause any initial problems for the riders, the terrain, combined with the lengthy distance towards the first categorised climb, will serve as a catalyst for fatigue. 

147.3km into the stage is where the first categorised climb sits, and to put that into perspective, five of the other road stages are shorter in their entirety, yet stage 13 arguably is just getting started at this point.

The Alto La Mozqueta, 6.3km at 8.4% is a consistently difficult ascent. With gradients of 9-10% in the early stages of the climb, it's a rude awakening for the riders. The gradients do ease in the second half, but only slightly, mainly between 7-8%. Jay Vine was the last winner of a stage that featured the climb, back on stage 8 in 2022. With already two stage wins in the bank this year, Vine will be one of the favourites for victory if the breakaway takes the spoils.

The Alto del Cordal is quite different to the Mozqueta climb because of its inconsistent nature. It's shorter at 5.5km in length, but slightly steeper with an average gradient of 8.8%. With stinging gradients of 8-11% in the first kilometre, the climb eases for a short section of 2-5%, before a punishing section of a kilometre between 8-14%. Once more, the gradients dull for another short section, before the punishing final 1.5km where the gradients do not drop below 9% and reach over 14% once more. 

At the summit of this climb with 21.1km remaining, it's very likely that the GC group will have dissipated in size, with only a short descent for the riders to recover before taking on one of the most revered climbs in professional cycling.

Since making its Vuelta debut in 1999, the Angliru has earned mythical status in professional cycling. 12.4km at 9.7% sounds brutal enough, but that doesn’t tell the full story.

Beginning with gradients of 10% from the get-go, the climb refuses to relent in its early stages before a brief easing in steepness. However, things get excruciating from here on in as the second half of the climb is the most difficult, with the most infamous section reaching gradients of 23.5% with around 3km remaining.

Shortly after the flamme rouge, the climbing is over, with the riders descending towards the finish in often misty conditions where the champion of an iconic climb will be crowned.

It's one of those stages where the road will well and truly decide the direction of the general classification battle of the 2025 Vuelta.

This is the stage where Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) could make the biggest of statements. 

In 2023, Vingegaard rode in tandem with then teammate Primož Roglič up the climb, with race leader and teammate Sepp Kuss third on the road, not too far behind. On that day, Vingegaard settled for second on the stage, with Roglič rolling across the line first. This time around, the Dane will be looking to lay down the biggest marker of them all as he looks to win his first red jersey. 

The first twelve stages have been a job well done so far for Vingegaard, who at no point has looked under major stress, yet leads the general classification with only two riders within a minute, and has two stage wins along with it. 

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) looks capable of a very strong GC performance of his own, currently sitting in sixth overall. The American will be all in on helping his team leader Vingegaard on this stage, however, and this will only enhance the chances of success for the current race leader. Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike) has experienced racing L’Angliru as the race leader, but this time will be at the full service of Vingegaard, and Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike) looked particularly impressive in recent stages and could also be a key rider for the Dutch team in setting things up for the finish.

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has been combative throughout this Vuelta, but stage 13 is arguably the stage that suits his skillset best so far.  Almeida’s ability to grind and manage his effort when others rush off into the distance is an impressive skill and should serve him particularly well on a finish as difficult as L’Angliru. It’s very easy to go too deep too soon, and Almeida’s ability to manage his effort could give him a big advantage over many of the other GC contenders.

This stage will give a great indication of how far Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) can go as a GC contender in this year's Vuelta. So far, Pidcock has excelled, improving in form throughout the stage, and is currently one of the strongest challengers to Vingegaard with a dynamic blend of grit and flair. It feels that Pidcock has got the bit between his teeth, with the growing confidence visible to see, yet the 26-year-old remains calm and measured about his prospects, taking things day by day.

If Pidcock can arrive atop the Angliru in good standing, it will be difficult not to get very excited about the 26-year-old’s prospects for the remainder of this Vuelta.

Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) should be much more at home on the steep gradients that the final three climbs present. Gall sits in a solid position in fifth, after some promising showings; meanwhile, the Colombian champion Bernal has been more low-key in 11th, but is still within striking distance of a strong GC position, just over a minute back from the Austrian.

Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) has started to slip back under the radar, after a red-hot start to the race, carrying impressive form from earlier in August. The Italian still sits in a strong position in sixth, and is on track for his first-ever top 10 Grand Tour overall finish. 

Stage 11 in Bilbao looked to be Jai Hindley’s (Red Bull-Boga-Hansgrohe) best showing at this Vuelta so far. The Australian is still firmly in podium contention, sitting in eighth, and his younger Italian teammate, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), still looks to have plenty to give, also in 10th.

Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) and Junior Lecerf (Soudal-QuickStep) are two riders who are currently enjoying their most successful Grand Tours from a GC perspective in 10th and 12th overall. Stage 13 could be a real coming-of-age performance for the pair, and if they are able to pass the test with flying colours, they will further cement their credentials as bona fide GC riders. Former race leader Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious) remains in 4th overall and will be aiming to preserve as high a position as possible as the new designated GC rider for the team.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have continued to be emphatic when it comes to stage wins at this Vuelta. Five in total, via the team time trial, and a pair each for Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine, have left an air of inevitability when it comes to breakaway stages.

As is the case once more, it's difficult to see past either of Vine and Ayuso if the breakaway takes the stage, but with the significance of L'Angliru, there's a strong chance that Visma | Lease a Bike will be aiming to set things up for a potential Vingegaard stage win.

Other strong climbers who could try to make it from the breakaway include:Wout Poels and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep), Javier Romo and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), Eddie Dunbar and Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ). 

Vuelta a España stage 13 favourites

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jonas Vingegaard
⭐️⭐️ João Almeida, Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley, Felix Gall, Jay Vine
⭐️ Juan Ayuso, Matthew Riccitello, Giulio Pellizzari, Egan Bernal, Giulio Ciccone, Mikel Landa

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