The Vuelta a Espana has been no stranger to monstrous, double-digit climbs in recent years. After the Angliru and the Tourmalet, race director Javier Guillén may have found a new beast to push riders to their limits.
The incredibly narrow, hellishly steep Alto Miserat is a 6.7km climb of pure brutality. Looking at the Strava riders to have completed the climb, Remco Evenepoel leads the way with his 22:15 ascent, averaging 18km/h, nearly 3 minutes quicker than any other attempt.
Thomas de Gendt of Lotto Soudal, soon to be Lotto-Dstny, took to Twitter to post his reaction to the news, "There will be a finish on el miserat? Brutal climb." Whilst renowned cycling journalist Tim Bonville-Ginn described the climb as "an absolutely brutal climb. And yeah, that finish is so tight. Such a classic Vuelta stage... If they're using that I can't wait to watch!"
2023 Vuelta a España. How an earth they'll be able to setup possible stage finish on top of El Miserat? Ok, one solution could be carrying only finish line frame to summit and leaving all the other logistics 1 km away where narrower road leading to top begins. #LaVuelta23
