La Vuelta 2024:-Stage 12:Ólvega – Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda, 137.4km ***Spoilers***

Ólvega – Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda, 137.4km

Thursday 29th August.

Start Time:13-10BST.

Stage 12 of La Vuelta is a lumpy race of 137.4 kilometres from Ourense to the ski station at the Cabeza de Manzaneda. The riders set off in easterly direction for a lumpy day in the saddle. The hills are not tough in themselves, it’s the sheer repetition of uphill drags that will wear the riders out until the long climb to the line finishes it all off. Ourense is famous for its hot springs and for promotional reasons the race sets off from one of the most famous spas in town. It’s the twentieth visit of la Vuelta. The last time was in 2020, when Tim Wellens took the stage win from the breakaway. The Estación de Montaña Manzaneda featured once before on La Vuelta. In 2011 it was David Moncoutié who climbed to victory, more than 1 minute ahead of his breakaway companions Beñat Intxausti and Luis León Sánchez.

Profile.

Map.

The Finishing Climb.

Starting in Manzaneda, it’s a 22 kilometres long drag to the ski station at the summit. The average gradient sits at 6.4%, while the hardest kilometre goes up at 10.2%. This section appears exactly halfway.

What to Expect.

It’s the kind of stage where anything can happen. A breakaway group fighting for the win with a few minutes’ lead or a GC team maintaining a high pace all day to inflict pain on their rivals in the final climb, or indeed, both.

Orense

Orense has already hosted 9 La Vuelta stage departures.

103,756 inhabitants.

Ourense is a city in northwestern Spain.

Orense, a thermal capital, invites visitors to enjoy its thermal baths and discover the city at a slower pace. The thermal springs of As Burgas have been a place of bathing and worship for the past 2,000 years, since the Roman settlement of Aquís Aurienses. With temperatures of over 60ºC, these waters and their various health benefits attract thousands of visitors every year.

Godello

Godello is a Spanish grape variety that has recently risen in popularity after it had nearly gone extinct after the 1970s. The grape shows the best results in Valdeorras in Galicia, though it is planted in other Spanish regions, as well as Portugal.

The wines made from Godello are usually full-bodied and dense but remain bright and mineral. Godello wines will typically include notes of citrus and white fruit, with accompanying nuances of honeysuckle and chamomile.

These wines are an excellent match to rich seafood dishes, especially lobster or scallops. They can also pair well with poultry.

Manzaneda

Manzaneda has already hosted a La Vuelta finish-line once before.

2.000 inhabitants (Trives).

Manzaneda is synonymous with mountain and adventure sports. During the winter, its ski slopes delight snow lovers. During warmer weather, it offers endless adventure sport options. This Galician climb has already hosted La Vuelta in 2011 and was the epicentre of the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta in 2021, featuring in four of the edition’s stages.

Botillo del Bierzo

Botillo del Bierzo is a meat product made by stuffing various cuts of pigs meat, mostly rib and tail meat, into the casing. Botillo del Bierzo is then marinated with garlic and paprika, smoked and cured. It is traditionally produced in the region of El Bierzo, which is to the North East of Manzaneda.