Vuelta A Espana - Stage 13 (Palas de Rei - Puerto de Ancares)

We’ve had fireworks after fireworks in this year’s Vuelta – which has been a grand tour for the purists as much as possible so far – and today sees the first of four race deciding summit finishes (three of which finish on HC climbs) in four days, with today’s route having 5 whole categorized climbs the- Cat.3 Alto de Castro (4.7km at 5.9% - starting after 30km), Cat.2 Alto de Vilaesteva (9.5km at 4.5% - after 61.5km), Cat.3 Alto de O Lago (8.4km at 4.1% - after 82km), Cat.1 Alto Folgueiras de Aigas (9.7km at 6.7% - after 116km), Cat.1 Puerto de Ancares (9.5km at 8.1% - after 140km) - and a highest point of 1,661m.

It’s the kind of stage made for Alberto Contador, which now lies just second, only 13 seconds behind Joaquim Rodriguez (below left), although whether he should be as short at 11/8 for this is debateable. Yes, Contador is looking stronger as the race goes on, has been going close on more than one stage and should be well suited by today’s climbs, but he’s been beaten by his Spanish compatriot and race leader 5 times (including in nearly every mountain stage) so the obvious choice is to take the 9/2 against the 6/4 even with the long, drawn out finish more likely to suit Contador and his Saxo Bank team.

Alejandro Valverde is aiming solely for the podium in Madrid but must be taken seriously given how he’s already won two stages (admittedly both with the latest of runs at the death, and one where Rodriguez failed to keep pedalling to the line), although the withdrawal of his team mate Jose Joaqiun Rojas is a blow to his hopes.

This is the kind of stage that should really suit Chris Froome – a long drawn out climb has always been to suit him – but there’s a worry that following his long hard season, that the legs have gone from Froome and Stage 11’s short but steep finish did nothing to suggest that wasn’t the case. If he’s towards the head of the Peloton and going well then 15’s will look big but we may have seen the best of him this year.

Veteran Frenchman David Moncoutie desperately wants a fifth King Of The Mountains title and won a similar stage back in 2008 of this climb, but he has shown little so far this year and others make more appeal, while if he wins we won’t be missing out on much as he’s never going to be favourite ahead of the big four.

Advice

1 pt Joaquin Rodriguez (9/2 general)

2.5pts Joaquin Rodriguez top 3 finish (4/5 Betfair)