Arinsal, the mountain pass that can begin to decide the Vuelta a España 2023

In the third stage of the Vuelta a España 2023, excitement is guaranteed with the unprecedented high finish at the summit of Arinsal, in Andorra. This climb, one of the six new high finishes this year, promises to make the first differences in the competition.

At 6.8 kilometers long and with an average gradient of 8.3%, this pass can be short but explosive, with sections reaching up to a demanding 13% gradient, accompanied by horseshoe turns, which will take its toll on more than one rider, especially given the early stage of the race.

One of the great experts in this terrain is Joachim 'Purito' Rodriguez, who has been living in the Principality of Andorra for more than 15 years and knows these roads like the back of his hand. He recently climbed the pass for the diario AS and commented on what he thought of the stage.

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The start of the stage is described by Purito as demanding, with an initial straight that could lead to the first movements. Then, 1.5 kilometers softer, providing some rest before the left turn, where the panorama changes completely. With 3.5 kilometers to go to the top of the climb, it is when the hardness increases considerably. The cyclists will encounter long and demanding "S" curves, an ideal zone to launch attacks and open up the gap.

Reaching the summit of Arinsal, located at an altitude of 1,914 meters, will offer spectacular views of several of Andorra's numerous mountain passes and nearby towns. The fact that this stage is so early in the competition is likely to cause some riders to suffer and be out of position. Only about 70 riders are expected to remain in the lead at the end of the stage, after climbing the less difficult Coll d'Ordino.

For the teams, it will be a challenge to make sure that no rider escapes in a breakaway, as no one will be far from the leader's jersey yet. A successful stage design by Unipublic, as including so much hardness so early in the competition can be tricky. It is necessary to let the riders ride for at least a week for the real battle for the general classification to develop.

Purito Rodríguez concludes that Arinsal is a terrain well known to almost all riders, which means that only the most explosive and astute will triumph. The stage promises excitement, strategy and a fight to stay at the top. Without a doubt, Arinsal will be a key day that will leave its mark on the Vuelta a España 2023.

With this expectation in mind, cycling fans and enthusiasts will be eager to see how this explosive stage unfolds in the mountainous setting of Andorra. The Vuelta a España 2023 has reached one of its most challenging stages, and only time will tell which riders emerge as the true contenders in this high-level competition.