From Lisbon to Madrid and from time trial to time trial, the Vuelta course takes an unconventional route. Unsurprisingly, the pattern is clear: climb after climb after climb. Once again, the Spanish round remains true to its identity, dominated by altimeters. In addition to monstrous stages culminating on the Picon Blanco and in Granada, the organizers are revisiting some familiar locations for the finishes. Including arrivals on the horror climbs of the Puerto de Ancares, Cuitu Negru and the classic Lagos de Covadonga stand out, rekindling nostalgic memories of one of the most spectacular editions of the Vuelta.
The Vuelta is renowned for its abundance of climbs, steep gradients, and challenging finishing stretches. Think of the extraordinary ascents like the Angliru or the Alto de los Machucos, terrains rarely encountered in any other race. These elements contribute to the Vuelta's distinctive character, providing an opportunity for those not inclined towards time trials to pursue a final victory on a grander stage. This was precisely what Joaquim Rodríguez achieved in 2012. That particular Vuelta comprised a total of ten uphill finishes. After narrowly missing out on a Giro victory in May, Purito sought redemption on his home turf, conquering ascents such as Ancares, Cuitu Negru, and the Lakes of Covadonga along the way.
A star-studded lineup to savor, featuring Froome, Rodríguez, Valverde, and the returning Contador
It was an eventful summer. Leading up to the Vuelta, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Joaquim Rodriguez were the riders to watch for the coveted red jersey. Froome, having finished second behind teammate Bradley Wiggins at the Tour, displayed undeniable strength, surpassing his leader. Contador, returning from a doping suspension, sought sporting redemption with fervor. Rodriguez, in pursuit of a podium finish in the Vuelta for years, and his compatriot Alejandro Valverde, emerged as important contenders for the red jersey. The Vuelta, starting in Pamplona, posed an open question, and from day three, the Spaniards transformed it into a true cycling spectacle.
On the slopes of the renowned climb to Arrate, Valverde, Contador, and Rodriguez engaged in tactical battles. Each launched attacks, but none managed to break away. Ultimately, Valverde dealt the first psychological blow by winning a millimeter sprint against Rodriguez, securing the red jersey. However, during the first week, the Katoesja rider also claimed a stage victory and wrestled the leader's jersey from his former teammate. The eighth stage underscored the closeness of the top riders. On the steep slopes of Gallina in Andorra, Contador made repeated attempts, breaking away only to be caught by Rodriguez, who, in turn, was overtaken in the final twenty meters by Valverde. Meanwhile, it became evident that Froome could no longer keep pace in this intense competition. From that moment onward, the Vuelta evolved into a battle of seconds among three resilient and attacking Spaniards.
Fascinating battle continues on the slopes of Ancares, Cuitu Negru, and Lagos de Covadonga, where the Spaniards dismantle each other
In the second week, it becomes evident that Rodriguez is in the form of his life. He accumulates bonus seconds through strong final sprints and even navigates the flat time trial successfully. Winning another stage, he continues to make strides. Meanwhile, Contador and Valverde remain resilient. The former, in particular, persists in his efforts and eventually breaks away from his red-clad pursuer in the final stage of the fourteenth, heading towards Ancares—until the last five hundred meters. Rodriguez capitalizes on his specialty: the long uphill final sprint. Executing it flawlessly on Ancares, he overtakes Contador. The result: another stage victory and further time gained.
The fifteenth stage unfolds at the enchanting Covadonga Lakes, providing an ideal backdrop for yet another attempt to challenge Rodriguez. However, Valverde and Contador fall short once again. Valverde's green, Contador's white, and Rodriguez's red jerseys remain inseparable. On the monstrous climb to Cuitu Negru the following day, Purito manages to gain time once more. On the narrow goat trails, boasting gradients of up to 24%, El Pistolero does everything in his power to shake off Rodriguez, yet once again, he succumbs mentally to the diminutive Catalan in the final meters. Holding a 28-second lead and brimming with confidence, Rodriguez is poised for the overall victory with five stages remaining.
Contador's breakaway in the transition stage shatters Rodriguez's dream
Contador needs to make a move. With only the transition stage to the village of Fuente Dé and the mountain stage to Bola del Mundo left on the schedule, the esteemed SaxoBank leader opts for an unorthodox racing strategy. He rattles the peloton when Rodriguez is positioned at the back. The gap narrows as the SaxoBank team surges forward. The red jersey's domestiques exhaust themselves but can't bridge the gap. Contador breaks away, establishing a substantial lead over Rodriguez. In the end, even Valverde outpaces the fatigued race leader. Contador secures the stage victory and places the Katoesja leader almost three minutes behind.
In the subsequent stages, Contador falters several times but doesn't capitulate. Rodriguez and Valverde fail to recover enough time to surpass the Madrileño. In retrospect, this might have been El Pistolero's most hard-fought victory in a grand tour. On the steepest Spanish ascents, he played second fiddle to Rodriguez, but at crucial moments, he proved just a bit smoother—precisely when no one anticipated it. As for Rodriguez, he never came this close to a final victory in a major tour again. Purito stands out as perhaps the most talented rider of his generation without a three-week stage race win.
Yet, the memories of this epic Vuelta, shaped by three Spaniards pushing each other to the limit, will linger with countless cycling fans. Perhaps, in Enric Mas, Juan Ayuso, and Carlos Rodriguez, new talents will emerge, engaging in a Spanish battle in the future. It's about time, considering Contador, with his 2015 Giro victory, remains the last Spanish rider to claim a grand tour. The goat trails of Ancares, the Lakes of Covadonga, and Cuitu Negru could serve as inspiration, propelling Spanish race talents to new heights.
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