Our review of the mountain top finishes of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana and how to see them

The Vuelta is well-known for its tough mountain top finishes. We have a look at these below and we also show you how you can be there in person to either spectate or to actually ride the climbs yourself before you watch how the Pros do it.

You can either choose to come on one of our fully supported tours for spectators and cyclists which include exclusive 2018 Vuelta a Espana VIP access or alternatively you can book daily VIP access. Every day of the Vuelta we offer you the opportunity to experience the race from the inside by booking one of our VIP experiences. These include daily VIP finish hospitality, a day on the stage route in an official Vuelta a Espana car and even a helicopter experience.

Daily 2018 Vuelta a Espana VIP experiences – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Want to see what happens on our VIP experiences, have a look at 2017 here – READ ABOUT OUR 2017 VUELTA VIP EXPERIENCES HERE 

Caminito del Rey

The peloton will leave the sea behind and head towards the mountains that frame the natural area of Caminito del Rey. Its steep slopes that wind between the peaks of the Malaga mountain range crowned Columbian rider, Esteban Chaves, in 2015 who, not only won the stage, but also wore La Roja. It will be the first high-altitude finale for La Vuelta 2018.

The toughest riders who wish to fight for La Roja will have to start making themselves known. The finale will allow a climber to win the stage, just like Esteban Chaves did in 2015. With regards to the general classification, there will be no major differences and the peloton may well make it to the start of the climb as one big group.

Be on the Caminito del Rey on our Malaga Gran Salida start weekend – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Friday 24 August until Tuesday 28 August
• Weekend trip in and out of Malaga airport
• Bike rental available
• Malaga city centre hotel
• Includes finish hospitality and cross the finish line experience
• Experience the first 3 stages of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana

ALFACAR. SIERRA DE LA ALFAGUARA

The Granada locality of Alfacar hosts a La Vuelta finish-line for the first time. With a past that is steeped in Muslim history, its name comes from the Arabic term “al-Fajjar”, which means “clay”. The municipality is famous for its bread, with its own designation of origin, which the riders will be able to enjoy should they manage to overcome the slopes of the Alfaguara Mountain Range, upon which Alfacar is located.

Upon first glance, Alfacar does not seem very tough, but it will make more of a difference to the general classification than Caminito del Rey. The toughest riders will have to pay particular attention during this stage, as the climb is the kind to potentially write off one or more of the favourites.

Watch this stage on our Malaga and Granada week – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Friday 24 August until Thursday 30 August
• A week tour in Andalucia, in and out of Malaga airport
• Bike rental available
• Malaga city centre hotel and Granada city centre hotel
• Includes finish, cross the finish line experience and start village
• Experience the first 5 stages in Andalucia

LAGOS DE COVADONGA

Marino Lejarreta, Perico Delgado, Lucho Herrera, Laurent Jalabert, Pavel Tonkov and Nairo Quintana… all of them have, at one point or another, climbed the windy, endless slopes of the Lagos de Covadonga and know just how it feels to win when you reach the top. The Asturian finish-line is synonymous with fighting, suffering and with cycling performance of the highest level.

This stage has one of the toughest profiles for the peloton of La Vuelta 2018, with an accumulated inclination of over 4000 metres. The stage ends at one of our country’s most iconic cycling finish-lines. The Lakes of Covadonga will determine which group will decide the race after climbing the Fito Viewpoint twice.

Be there on our Asturias weekend – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Thursday 6 September until Monday 10 September (Vuelta rest day)
• Weekend trip into Madrid and out of Bilbao airport
• Bike rental available
• 4 star hotel in Gijon with breakfasts and evening meals included
• Includes finish, cross the finish line experience and start village so VIP access every day of your trip
• 3 stages – 3 of the best stages of the entire Vuelta, all mountain top finishes

Valle de Sabero. La Camperona

The peloton returns to Castilla y León in order to face its old acquaintance: the Alto de La Camperona, in the Sabero Valley, that will welcome La Vuelta for the third time. This mountain pass allowed Nairo Quintana to wear the red jersey in 2016, the year in which he won La Vuelta. Likewise with Alberto Contador in 2014, who also won La Roja in this extremely difficult climb, before taking the highest spot on the podium at Santiago de Compostela, following his third La Vuelta win.

This stage features an extremely tough finale that will make a difference to the general classification. Before climbing La Camperona, the peloton will have to overcome another mountain pass, Puerto de Tarna (km 105,5), which will whittle down the riders in the lead. Attempts to escape are likely, though the strongest teams will work hard to neutralise them.

Les Praeres. Nava

In Nava, cider is a way of life, whether it is through its production, or the tourism attracted by such festivities as the Cider Festival or the very popular Cider Museum, which has its headquarters in this Asturian town. This will be an unprecedented La Vuelta arrival, in which riders will try to stick to the etymological definition of Nava, which literally means “flat land between mountains”.

Second day of the Asturias-Leon triptych, much to the delight of climbers. Once again, the winding terrain will favour escapes, which will again make the teams work hard to protect their leaders. The stage will end in Praeres de Nava, a very demanding mountain pass, with slopes of up to 15%.

Be there on our Asturias weekend – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Thursday 6 September until Monday 10 September (Vuelta rest day)
• Weekend trip into Madrid and out of Bilbao airport
• Bike rental available
• 4 star hotel in Gijon with breakfasts and evening meals included
• Includes finish, cross the finish line experience and start village so VIP access every day of your trip
• 3 stages – 3 of the best stages of the entire Vuelta, all mountain top finishes

Balcón de Bizkaia

Few territories can compete with the Basque Country’s passion for cycling: thousands of fans line the roads, a solid quarry of riders, and a privileged orography provide the local touch. This year, the prize for cycling lovers comes in the form of an unprecedented La Vuelta climb: the Balcón de Vizcaya, jewel of the village of Berriz, in Mount Oiz. Unprecedented finale, with a very “Vuelta” profile. The riders must overcome over 3000 metres of inclination, with an explosive finish-line in Mount Oiz and slopes of up to 17% and 18%.

Be there on our Asturias and Bilbao tour – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Thursday 6 September until Thursday 13 September
• Week trip in and out of Madrid
• Bike rental available
• 4 star hotel in Gijon on half board basis and 5 star in Bilbao on B&B basis
• Includes finish hospitality x 2, cross the finish line experience and start village
• 3 stages – 3 of the best stages, all mountain top finishes in Asturias
• The other 2 stages are the ITT and a cracking stage in and around Bilbao

Coll de La Gallina. Santuario de Canolich

More than 7 kilometres, with an average incline of 8% and slopes of up to 15%. This is how three demanding weeks of competition will come to an end for the peloton. The Coll de la Gallina, an Andorran mountain pass that has been climbed three times before in the history of the Spanish tour, will be the deciding stage that will determine who will win the right to wear La Roja in the final celebration in Madrid.

Very short but very tough stage, with an accumulated inclination of almost 4000 metres spanning over 105km. The peloton will climb La Comella, Beixalis, Ordino, Beixalis, La Comella again and La Gallina. If the race leader struggles during the previous stage, he may lose La Vuelta.

Andorra weekend – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

• In and out of Barcelona (£50 additional per transfer)
• Local team of guides and vehicle support
• Option to add a Madrid extension after Andorra
• Bike rental available
• 4 star in Andorra on half board
• Includes finish hospitality and cross the finish line experience
• 2 stages in Andorra with guided rides supported by local Andorran guides

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