Unlike the already-launched Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, few details are known about the route of next year’s Vuelta a España. In recent days there were reports that the Bola del Mundo climb which featured two years ago would return, once again being the final summit of the race, and it is also understood that the event will start with a team time trial in Pamplona.
Now another detail has been uncovered, with the El Periodic d’Andorra newspaper reporting that the eighth stage of the race will finish on the Coll de la Gallina de Sant Julià de Lòria climb.
The climb starts at an altitude of 969 metres and ascends to 1,635 metres, with the seven kilometre road averaging 8.3 percent. The maximum gradient is 18 percent, giving the stronger climbers plenty of scope to distance their rivals.
Given that it comes early in the race, the slopes should have a dramatic effect on the general classification.
The newspaper suggests that the ninth stage will likely start in Andorra la Vella before travelling back to Catalunya.
In recent days there have also been suggestions that the race will travel to the Basque region, with this year’s return after a long absence being seen as a big success.
The full route of the Vuelta a España will be unveiled during the second week of January in Pamplona. The 2012 event will begin on August 18th.