The opening week of the Vuelta a España hits a crescendo on Sunday before the first rest day, a mighty test for the general classification contenders across 178km with more than 4,000 metres of elevation gain from Motril to Granada. It is on a succession of three category 1 ascents between kilometres 88 and 124.5 that will separate the contenders in the Sierra Nevada mountains on stage 9.
A double ascent of Alto de Hazallanas will either sound an alarm of dread or opportunity. The climb was used at the 2015 Ruta del Sol where a battle between Alberto Contador and Chris Froome ensued, the South African seizing the overall lead. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hasgrohe) demonstrated on stage 8 that his legs are solid, so will race leader Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) bound back, or Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) strike?
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