The star stage of Spain’s Vuelta 63rd edition starts, for the first time, at San Vicente de la Barquera. Those that hold still enough stamina to continue have to overcome a 199 km stage and five mountain passes: the third category ALTO DEL ORTIGUEIRO and ALTO DE LA FAYA DE LOS LOBOS, and the first category ALTO DE COLLADIELLA and ALTO DEL CORDAL. It only remains to reach the fabled arrival line in the both hoped for and feared special category ALTO DEL ANGLIRU summit located in Vega de Riosa.

The Angliru summit has been reached only three times - 1999, 2000 and 2002 - and the winners have always been outstanding climbers able to conquer ramps that reach up to 23%.

This short-lived history arrival line is already a legend. A history that lists many racers like those that had to give up after falling down, such as Escartín, or reached the arrival line suffering ribs fissures, such as Olano, or even riders that after reaching the top did not want to go across the arrival line, such as Millar.

From the departure lines, the stage favours attempts to breakaway and those teams that hope to win at the Angliru must be ready to control any attempt.

Weather is something riders must take very much into account along this stage, during the last climbing stretch, since in the previous editions they had to brave freezing cold and rain.