PREVIEW | Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 18 - Sepp Kuss' red jersey closer and closer to fall towards Jonas Vingegaard or Primoz Roglic

Preview. Stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana may hand out another dramatic set of climbs. After being dropped on the Alto de l'Angliru, Sepp Kuss' leadership has taken another hit and at this point it will be a fight for every second against his own teammates Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic.

Stage 18 will be another brutal day in the Asturias, a proper high mountain stage with three first category climbs among others. The finale will be atop La Cruz de Linares which the riders will be riding up on two different occasions with 8.5 kilometers at 8%.

The start is not too difficult, but it does feature some hilltops early enough to see the climbers trying to form a strong group ahead. The race will begin to be really hard at the Puerto de San Lorenzo, it ends with 90 kilometers to go, unlikely a place for attacks because in reality much of the toughness on the day is still to follow, however it's 10 kilometers at 8.5% - which take into account a flat section - are enough to cause havoc.

The Alto de Tenebredo is an ascent I'd say the same about. It is shadowed by the brutal long ascents that sandwich it, but on it's own it's crazy hard, with 3.4 kilometers in length, most at above 10%, the average is close to it but it does feature a small descent. This one ends with 58 kilometers to go. But only then will the riders head into the final circuit where the big attacks are expected.

This will be a double ascent of La Cruz de Linares. The final true big climb of the race, it's 8.2 kilometers at 8.5% average gradient. Not the most constant climb, it features a bit of a plateau near the top, it also sees gradients almost constantly in the 10% in it's first half. A brutal one. The riders will summit it with 25 kilometers to go, and after a fast descent and small flat section, they will have to do it all over again.

The Weather

No notable wind on the day and no expectations of rain. It should be a normal day weather wise.

The Favourites

Jumbo-Visma - The plot thickens. The strategy is not clear. The individual role of each of the leaders seems to be the case, at this point it's hard to see whether the overall win will fall to Sepp Kuss or Jonas Vingegaard. Only eight seconds separate them at this point, I don't think Vingegaard will attack, but if Primoz Roglic does again then he will follow.

It's an interesting, very unusual, and quite unpredictable tactic. Kuss will like the multiple mountains but he finds himself in a situation where he has to match his teammates' every move, even if they do not attack sharply. That will not be easy, and will be the main point of the day.

Bahrain - Victorious have impressed today, they have the chance to win the stage if they focus on a breakaway, but Mikel Landa, now fifth, will want to attack Juan Ayuso's fourth place. Their battle alongside Enric Mas for fourth will be interesting. Behind João Almeida can certainly perform as well, although I don't think any of these riders can directly defeat Jumbo-Visma, it'd have to be product of bad luck or a bad day from some of them.

Hence a breakaway is the only logical scenario where other riders are able to go for the win, in a day that is not easy to control. Bahrain definitely have big weapons to do so, Wout Poels mainly, but also Santiago Buitrago, Antonio Tiberi and Damiano Caruso, all of which have put in strong rides recently. Marc Soler who lost a lot of time today is now also a weapons. Remco Evenepoel will want to chase the win again after being chased down furiously today.

Einer Rubio, Emanuel Buchmann, Romain Bardet, Louis Vervaeke, Lennert van Eetvelt and Cristián Rodríguez will be other cards for the stage win. This stage does not include the Angliru, but don't be mistaken, it is a brutal day on the bike, perhaps just as hard.

Prediction Vuelta a Espana 2023 stage 18:

*** Jonas Vingegaard, Wout Poels
** Primoz Roglic, Sepp Kuss, Remco Evenepoel
* Mikel Landa, Juan Ayuso, João Almeida, Enric Mas, Santiago Buitrago, Einer Rubio, Romain Bardet

Pick: Wout Poels