Monte Oiz the Penultimate climb of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana
The Vuelta a España has a new Angliru! The relatively unheard of, unknown climb of Monte Oiz
The Monte Oiz rises 1,026 meters above sea level over 20 kilometers from Gernika, near Bilbao in the Bay of Biscay. With average percentages between 9.3% and 14% and two sections, one at 20% and the other at 25%, it could be the final climb on the penultimate stage of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana.
If the general classification hasn't already been decided, then the winner will be the first professional rider to enter his name in the history books on the new Basque summit.
Announced in Cadena Ser Bilbao, by Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) Unai Rementeria, called it a "spectacular, unheard of, never seen before, that we will know about shortly ", which points to a demanding stage before the final climb of Oiz which corresponds to the peculiar topography of the area.
Riders will needh sufficient reserves after the previous nineteen days of racing.
The climb of Oiz is sadly famous for the plane crash in 1985 in which 148 people died, will be one of the two new stage fnishes in the history of the Spanish Grand Tour and out of a possible the "eight or ten" that are planned for the 2018 edition.
The Bizkaia region wants to host the final stages to the 74th edition of the Vuelta a Espana.
2018 Vuelta a Espana will start with a 10km individual time-trial in the city of Malaga finishing on the marbled Calle Larios
The Spanish Grand Tour will start with an individual time-trial for the first time since 2009, taking the riders from the Centre Pompidou before finishing on Malaga's Calle Larios, most known for its marbled flooring.
This change has occurred in a push to give the race fresh appeal according to reports in Spanish newspapers.
The 2017 Vuleta a Espana saw Chris Froome take the general classification, securing an historic Tour-Vuelta double, joining only Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil in this achievement.
It is expected that the Vuelta will remain in the province of Malaga for three days, and a stage to Caminito del Rey, where Esteban Chaves won in 2015, is about to be finalized.
To balance the course, a second individual time trial, in addition to the one held at the start, seems on track to materialize in the last week.
The 2018 Vuelta will be officially revealed on January 13th in Estepona, Spain next year.