If the Stelvio is a mountain of grandeur, then the Alto de l’Angliru is a climb of cruelty. Rising above Asturias in northern Spain, its jagged ramps and mist-shrouded summit have become the defining battleground of La Vuelta a España. And in 2025, it returns once more—Stage 13 promises fireworks on its unforgiving slopes.
A Modern Giant
Unlike the Stelvio or Galibier, the Angliru is a relative newcomer. First paved in the 1990s with the express aim of giving the Vuelta an icon to rival the Giro and Tour, it made its debut in 1999. That day, José María Jiménez emerged from the fog to take victory, and with it the Angliru entered cycling legend.
Since then, its reputation has only grown: consistently above 10%, brutal ramps that tip past 23%, and countless stories of riders cracking in full view of the cameras. It’s a climb that has no rhythm, no forgiveness. You don’t conquer the Angliru—you endure it.
Race History
The Vuelta’s history here is already rich:
- 1999: Jiménez inaugurates the legend.
- 2002: Rain and fog cause chaos; David Millar dismounts metres before the line in protest.
- 2011: Juanjo Cobo wins on the Angliru to secure his overall victory.
- 2017: In his farewell Vuelta, Alberto Contador attacks to win solo through the fog—a storybook ending to his career.
- 2020: Hugh Carthy defeats Roglič in a breakthrough ride.
- 2023: Primož Roglič drops teammate, race-leader and eventual race winner Sepp Kuss, alongside Jonas Vingegaard to take a controversial stage victory atop the Angliru.
This year, the Angliru returns at a decisive moment. With Roglič and Pogačar absent, the spotlight falls on Jonas Vingegaard, now seeking to prove himself in Spain; Juan Ayuso and João Almeida, carrying the hopes of UAE; and Tom Pidcock, after his display of strength on Stage 11, could yet unsettle the favourites. By the summit of Stage 13, we may well know the shape of the race to Madrid.
Photographing the Angliru
Climbs like the Stelvio offer sweeping views, but the Angliru is different. When I first stood on its slopes, I was struck by how close everything felt—the crowds pressed in, the mist clinging low, the riders moving at a pace where every grimace, every flicker of pain is visible.
That’s what draws me back again this year. I’ll be heading to Asturias during the Vuelta to photograph Stage 13, hoping to capture the mountain as it reveals itself once more. Each visit brings something new, and I’m curious to see what the Angliru will give up this time.
Discover More
The Angliru, along with many other iconic climbs, features in my book Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs and in the accompanying collection of limited-edition prints that can be found here.
