La Vuelta a España - August 14 to September 5 LIVE on SBS VICELAND, SBS On Demand and the SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker
The Spanish Grand Tour is well-known for steep climbs, hot weather and quality winners.
Primož Roglič has taken out the last two editions of the race, and looks to be in a good position to compete a famous hattrick. Will the Slovenian channel his Tour de France disappointment into another Vuelta success, or will the likes of Australian Jack Haig, Enric Mas and Miguel Angel Lopez spoil the party?
All stages will be LIVE to EASTERN STATES on SBS VICELAND and live streaming to SBS On Demand and the SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker.
Stage 16- Laredo to Santa Cruz de Bezana- 180 km
Tuesday August 15- 2300 – 0150 on SBS VICELAND (All times AEST)
Live streaming to SBS On Demand. SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 22:50
A hilly day in the saddle straight out of the rest day, but one that the sprinters will still be hoping they can see finish in a bunch sprint. It's their last big opportunity, Stage 19 is also a chance, but breakaway riders who aren't the top climbers in the race will also be looking for chances to slip into the early move and claim a Grand Tour stage win.
Stage 16 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
Stage 17- Unquera to Lagos de Covadonga- 185.8 km
Wednesday August 15- 2135 – 0150 on SBS VICELAND.
Live streaming to SBS On Demand and SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 20:10.
The first of two brutal stages in the Asturian mountains, with 4437 of vertical ascent over the course of the four categorised climbs. The peloton will tackle La Collada Llomena twice, the 7.6 kilometre long climb at 9.3 per cent would be enough of a challenge in it's own right, but the final assault of Lagos de Covadonga looms large at the finish.
The wildly varying ascent incorporates some descents as well as eye-watering steep sections going back uphill. The final statistics of the climb, 12.5 kilometres at 6.9 per cent, don't tell the full story of what will be one of the toughest tests of the 2021 Vuelta.
Stage 17 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
Stage 18- Salas to Altu d’El Gamoniteiru- 162.6 km
Thursday August 15- 2120 – 0150 on SBS VICELAND
Live streaming to SBS On Demand and SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 20:35.
If the previous day's stage was merely hard, then Stage 18 borders on sadistic. 4957 metres of vertical gain packed into 162.6 kilometres of racing with some of the steepest gradients that you'll see in world cycling.
Made even harder by the presence of Lagos de Covadonga the previous stage, the early climb of Puertu de San Llaurienzu varies in pitch, but contains two separate three-kilometre ramps above 10 per cent. It might be the end of the race for some if the pace is high at that point. The Altu d'El Gaimoniteiru is the beast of a summit finish awaiting the riders and, regardless of the action to that point, it will be the scene of more fireworks. 14.6 kilometres long at 9.8 per cent average are stats that put it up there with the hardest climbs in cycling. The steepest pinches come within sight of the line as the road tilts upwards with 17 per cent sections in the final kilometre.
Stage 18 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
Stage 19- Tapia to Monforte de Lemos- 191.2 km
Friday August 15- 2300 – 0150
SBS VICELAND and live streaming to SBS On Demand. SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 22:50
The early part of the route to Monforte de Lemos looks tailor-made for a strong breakaway to form, and if the sprinters' team aren't in a mood to ride hard all day then it should be fought out among the attackers.
Stage 19 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
Stage 20- Sanxenxo›Mos. Castro de Herville- 202.2 km
Saturday August 15- 2300 – 0150
SBS VICELAND and live streaming to SBS On Demand. SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 22:30
The last chance for the climbers to make a difference in the race, and it shapes as a stage where long-range attacks could come into play. It is similar to the equivalent stage in the 2019 Vuelta, where Tadej Pogačar put in a big attack to move up onto the final podium as the rest of the general classification candidates trailed behind, looking exhausted in his wake.
Stage 20 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
Stage 21- Padrón›Santiago de Compostela- 33.8km ITT
Sunday August 15- 0150 – 0450 (early Monday AM)
SBS VICELAND and live streaming to SBS On Demand. SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker starts from 22:50
The final time trial will decide the ultimate winner of the 2021 Vuelta. A solid course that does include some climbing, it is also quite technical and will see a time triallist with good all-round capabilities take the win.
You can watch the final week of the Vuelta a España on SBS VICELAND, SBS OnDemand and the SKODA Tour Tracker with Matt Keenan and Dave McKenzie in commentary, while the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta - the Women's WorldTour race - will be staged earlier in the day.
Stage 21 profile La Vuelta a Espana Source: ASO
