Richie Porte flattens out the Willunga Hill!

Old Willunga Hill
2015:3,6 km@7,1%---7:48---average speed 27.69 km/h(Richie Porte)
2014:3,6 km@7,1%---8:18---average speed 26.02 km/h(Richie Porte)
2013:3,6 km@7,1%---8:01---average speed 26.94 km/h(Gerrans-Slagter)
2012:3,6 km@7,1%---8:47---average speed 24.59 km/h(Valverde-Gerrans)
2011:3,6 km@7,1%---8:44---average speed 24.73 km/h(Ben Hermans)
2010:3,6 km@7,1%---8:25---average speed 25.66 km/h(Valverde-L.L.Sanchez-Evans-Sagan)

The 2014 'Subiendo como una moto' awards

     

       At the end of the year, I thought that it would be interesting to do a nice "Top 10" of what I consider to be the most brutal climbing performances of the season. So here they are:

10. Tom Danielson up the Powder Mountain, during the Tour of Utah.
9. Vincenzo Nibali's ascent on Planche des Belles Filles
8. Valverde's record time on Mur de Huy
7. Rafal Majka on Risoul, from the breakaway
6. The Froome-Contador clash on Col du Beal
5. Philippe Gilbert's new record up the Cauberg
4. Quintana and Aru on the Monte Grappa mountain time trial
3. Vincenzo Nibali's ride on Hautacam
2. Alberto Contador's ascent on Puerto de Ancares
1. Alberto Contador's ascent to La Farrapona

       During the season, four new record ascents were set by the riders on the following climbs: Ca uberg, Mur de Huy, Risoul and Port de Bales.
      After being hold by another rider for a period of two years, the title of the best climber in the world comes back on the shoulders of the Spanish champion, Alberto Contador. Even if he crashed out of the Tour de France while supposedly, being in his best form ever, he still managed to return and reach at the end of the second week of La Vuelta a Espana, the same climbing level as in his dominating years.
     The Tour de France winner, Vincenzo Nibali showed during the July race, his best ever climbing peformances, confirming the upgrade made in the Astana colours. It remains to be seen if he has any room of improvement left in the climbing department for 2015...
     While Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome and the eternal Alejandro Valverde didn't manage for different reasons, to surpass their best versions in the 2014 season , there were two young champions who made it on the scene of the best climbers in the world. The first, Fabio Aru proved that he has the endurance needed to win the biggest races in the world, unleashing a tremendous number of watts on the climbs of the third week both in Il Giro (Monte Grappa) and La Vuelta (Monte Castrove). The second, Rafal Majka, constant but not brilliant during the Giro d'Italia, managed to conquer in big style both the Alps and the Pyrenees during Le Tour. His breakaway triumphs could be placed in the same category along with the superb mountain raids of Richard Virenque, Michael Rasmussen or Emanuele Sella.
      The climbing level of the whole season can be considered superior to the level of the last two or three years. Overall, the performances seen before the 2007 season were not reached during 2014 though.

Ancares confirms Contador as the Vuelta champion

Alto de Folgueiras de Aigas

2014:9,8 km@6,6%---25:01---average speed 23.50 km/h(30 riders peloton)

2012:9,8 km@6,6%---25:55---average speed 22.69 km/h(80 riders peloton led by Saxo Bank)

Puerto de Ancares
2014:12,0 km@9,2%---38:50---average speed 18.54 km/h(Alberto Contador)

Monte Castrove, attacked at amazing speed!

Monte Castrove - first ascent

2014:6,4 km@7,3%---16:41---average speed 23.02 km/h(Alberto Losada)

                            ---16:56---average speed 22.68 km/h(Peloton)

Monte Castrove - final ascent
2014:6,4 km@7,3%---15:33---average speed 24.69 km/h(Froome-Aru)
                            ---15:40---average speed 24.51 km/h(Contador-Valverde-Rodriguez)

Alberto Contador shows his best level on Farrapona!

Alto de la Cobertoria

2014:9,6 km@8,9%---34:28---average speed 16.71 km/h(Fabian Cancellara)

                            ---34:54---average speed 16.50 km/h(60 riders peloton)

Puerto de San Lorenzo

2014:11,2 km@8,0%---33:56---average speed 19.80 km/h(25 riders peloton)

2011:11,2 km@8,0%---32:41---average speed 20.56 km/h(Intxausti-Bruseghin)

                              ---32:51---average speed 20.46 km/h(Daniel Moreno)

                              ---33:04---average speed 20.32 km/h(30 riders peloton)

La Farrapona
2014:6,1 km@9,0%---17:43---average speed 20.66 km/h(Alberto Contador)
2011:6,1 km@9,0%---18:39---average speed 19.62 km/h(Juan Jose Cobo)
                             ---19:17---average speed 18.98 km/h(Rein Taaramae)

No big changes in the Top 100 Lagos de Covadonga

 1.  2005: 32:22 Gilberto Simoni 22.62 km/h
 2.  2005: 32:27 Carlos Sastre 22.56 km/h
 3.  2000: 32:29 Roberto Heras 22.53 km/h
 4.  2005: 32:34 Denis Menchov 22.48 km/h
 5.  2005: 32:34 Roberto Heras 22.48 km/h
 6.  2005: 33:01 Miguel Angel Perdiguero 22.17 km/h
 7.  2005: 33:01 Oscar Sevilla 22.17 km/h
 8.  2000: 33:04 Carlos Sastre 22.14 km/h
 9.  2005: 33:06 Santos Gonzalez 22.11 km/h
 10. 2007: 33:15 Leonardo Piepoli 22.02 km/h
 11. 2007: 33:15 Denis Menchov 22.02 km/h
 12. 2007: 33:15 Carlos Sastre 22.02 km/h
 13. 2001: 33:21 Juan Miguel Mercado 21.95 km/h
 14. 2005: 33:26 Francisco Mancebo 21.89 km/h
 15. 2000: 33:27 Óscar Sevilla 21.88 km/h
 16. 2000: 33:29 Santos Gonzalez 21.86 km/h
 17. 2000: 33:31 Roberto Laiseka 21.84 km/h
 18. 2005: 33:35 Eladio Jimenez 21.80 km/h
 19. 2007: 33:37 Cadel Evans 21.77 km/h
 20. 2012: 33:41 Alejandro Valverde 21.73 km/h
 21. 2012: 33:41 Joaquim Rodriguez 21.73 km/h
 22. 2012: 33:41 Alberto Contador 21.73 km/h
 23. 2000: 33:43 Raimundas Rumsas 21.71 km/h
 24. 2000: 33:44 Angel Casero 21.70 km/h
 25. 2000: 33:44 Igor González de Galdeano 21.70 km/h
 26. 2000: 33:44 Pavel Tonkov 21.70 km/h
 27. 2000: 33:48 Txema Del Olmo 21.66 km/h
 28. 2005: 33:52 Samuel Sanchez 21.61 km/h
 29. 2001: 33:54 Oscar Sevilla 21.59 km/h
 30. 2012: 33:54 Nairo Quintana 21.59 km/h
 31. 2012: 34:04 Igor Anton 21.49 km/h
 32. 2000: 34:05 Richard Virenque 21.48 km/h
 33. 2014: 34:05 Alejandro Valverde 21.48 km/h
 34. 2014: 34:05 Joaquim Rodriguez 21.48 km/h
 35. 2007: 34:06 Manuel Beltrán 21.47 km/h
 36. 2007: 34:06 Oscar Pereiro Sio 21.47 km/h
 37. 2014: 34:10 Alberto Contador 21.42 km/h
 38. 2010: 34:11 Ezequiel Mosquera 21.41 km/h
 39. 2005: 34:16 Roberto Laiseka 21.36 km/h
 40. 2012: 34:16 Tomasz Marczynski 21.36 km/h
 41. 2012: 34:16 Robert Gesink 21.36 km/h
 42. 2012: 34:16 Winner Anacona 21.36 km/h
 43. 2012: 34:16 Andrew Talansky 21.36 km/h
 44. 2012: 34:16 Bart De Clercq 21.36 km/h
 45. 2012: 34:16 Przemyslaw Niemiec 21.36 km/h
 46. 2012: 34:16 Daniel Moreno 21.36 km/h
 47. 2012: 34:16 Christopher Froome 21.36 km/h
 48. 2012: 34:16 Benat Intxausti 21.36 km/h
 49. 2014: 34:17 Fabio Aru 21.35 km/h
 50. 2014: 34:17 Christopher Froome 21.35 km/h

 51. 2005: 34:18 Ruben Plaza 21.34 km/h
 52. 2001: 34:19 Joseba Beloki 21.33 km/h
 53. 2012: 34:20 Gorka Verdugo 21.32 km/h
 54. 2010: 34:22 Vincenzo Nibali 21.30 km/h
 55. 2010: 34:22 Peter Velits 21.30 km/h
 56. 2010: 34:22 Joaquim Rodriguez 21.30 km/h
 57. 2007: 34:23 Vladimir Efimkin 21.29 km/h
 58. 2012: 34:24 Laurens Ten Dam 21.28 km/h
 59. 2014: 34:28 Daniel Martin 21.24 km/h
 60. 2007: 34:32 José Ángel Gómez Marchante 21.20 km/h
 61. 2005: 34:36 Tom Danielson 21.16 km/h
 62. 2001: 34:38 Jose María Jimenez 21.14 km/h
 63. 2005: 34:38 Oscar Pereiro 21.14 km/h
 64. 2007: 34:38 Samuel Sánchez 21.14 km/h
 65. 2007: 34:39 Igor Antón 21.13 km/h
 66. 2005: 34:40 Carlos Garcia Quesada 21.12 km/h
 67. 2010: 34:41 Tom Danielson 21.11 km/h
 68. 2001: 34:42 José Luis Rubiera 21.10 km/h
 69. 2001: 34:42 David Plaza 21.10 km/h
 70. 2001: 34:42 Manuel Beltran 21.10 km/h
 71. 2001: 34:42 Angel Casero 21.10 km/h
 72. 2001: 34:42 Roberto Heras 21.10 km/h
 73. 2001: 34:42 Fernando Escartin 21.10 km/h
 74. 2001: 34:42 Aitor Osa 21.10 km/h
 75. 2001: 34:42 Roberto Laiseka 21.10 km/h
 76. 2012: 34:42 Rigoberto Uran 21.10 km/h
 77. 2014: 34:44 Warren Barguil 21.07 km/h
 78. 2000: 34:45 Fernando Escartín 21.06 km/h
 79. 2005: 34:55 Iñigo Cuesta 20.96 km/h
 80. 2001: 34:58 Iban Mayo 20.93 km/h
 81. 2007: 34:58 Josep Jufré 20.93 km/h
 82. 2010: 34:58 Nicolas Roche 20.93 km/h
 83. 2010: 34:58 Frank Schleck 20.93 km/h
 84. 2012: 34:58 Rinaldo Nocentini 20.93 km/h
 85. 2010: 34:59 Carlos Sastre 20.92 km/h
 86. 2014: 35:00 Rigoberto Uran 20.91 km/h
 87. 2014: 35:00 Giampaolo Caruso 20.91 km/h
 88. 2000: 35:01 Haimar Zubeldia 20.90 km/h
 89. 2000: 35:02 Andrei Zintchenko 20.89 km/h
 90. 2007: 35:06 Vladimir Karpets 20.85 km/h
 91. 2000: 35:07 Oscar Camenzind 20.84 km/h
 92. 2000: 35:07 José Luis Rubiera 20.84 km/h
 93. 2000: 35:07 Marco Magnani 20.84 km/h
 94. 2000: 35:07 Wladimir Belli 20.84 km/h
 95. 2014: 35:07 Robert Gesink 20.84 km/h
 96. 2014: 35:07 Daniel Moreno 20.84 km/h
 97. 2007: 35:11 Sylvester Szmyd 20.81 km/h
 98. 2012: 35:11 Maxime Monfort 20.81 km/h
 99. 2012: 35:11 Nicolas Roche 20.81 km/h
 100.2000: 35:16 Alberto Lopez de Munain 20.76 km/h

Another tactical, slow ascent to Los Lagos de Covadonga

Lagos de Covadonga
2014:12,2 km@7,0%---34:05---average speed 21.48 km/h(Valverde-Rodriguez)
                              ---37:40---average speed 19.43 km/h(Przemyslaw Niemiec)
2012:12,2 km@7,0%---33:41---average speed 21.73 km/h(Valverde-Rodriguez-Contador)
                              ---35:55---average speed 20.38 km/h(Antonio Piedra)
2010:12,2 km@7,0%---34:11---average speed 21.41 km/h(Ezequiel Mosquera)
                              ---37:21---average speed 19.60 km/h(Carlos Barredo)
2007:12,2 km@7,0%---33:15---average speed 22.02 km/h(Piepoli-Menchov-Sastre)
                              ---34:23---average speed 21.29 km/h(Vladimir Efimkin)
2005:12,2 km@7,0%---32:22---average speed 22.62 km/h(Gilberto Simoni)
                              ---33:35---average speed 21.80 km/h(Eladio Jimenez)
2001:12,2 km@7,0%---33:21---average speed 21.95 km/h(Juan Miguel Mercado)
2000:12,2 km@7,0%---32:29---average speed 22.53 km/h(Roberto Heras)
                              ---35:02---average speed 20.89 km/h(Andrei Zintchenko)
1997:12,8 km@7,0%---33:47---average speed 22.73 km/h(Pavel Tonkov)-RECORD
1996:12,8 km@7,0%---34:20---average speed 22.37 km/h(Jalabert-Zulle)
1989:12,5 km@7,2%---38:21---average speed 19.56 km/h(Oscar de Jesus Vargas)
                              ---38:36---average speed 19.43 km/h(Alvaro Pino)
1985:12,5 km@7,2%---39:27---average speed 19.01 km/h(Pedro Delgado)

Important mention:
Until the year 2000, the finish line was placed at the end of an another local road, the riders racing a different, more difficult last kilometer.

Froome gets better on the insane gradients!

La Camperona
2014:2,9 km@14,0%---12:08---average speed 14.34 km/h(Christopher Froome)
                              ---13:24---average speed 12.99 km/h(Ryder Hesjedal)

Top 100 Lagos de Covadonga: Miraculous speed!

 1.  2005: 32:22 Gilberto Simoni 22.62 km/h
 2.  2005: 32:27 Carlos Sastre 22.56 km/h
 3.  2000: 32:29 Roberto Heras 22.53 km/h
 4.  2005: 32:34 Denis Menchov 22.48 km/h
 5.  2005: 32:34 Roberto Heras 22.48 km/h
 6.  2005: 33:01 Miguel Angel Perdiguero 22.17 km/h
 7.  2005: 33:01 Oscar Sevilla 22.17 km/h
 8.  2000: 33:04 Carlos Sastre 22.14 km/h
 9.  2005: 33:06 Santos Gonzalez 22.11 km/h
 10. 2007: 33:15 Leonardo Piepoli 22.02 km/h
 11. 2007: 33:15 Denis Menchov 22.02 km/h
 12. 2007: 33:15 Carlos Sastre 22.02 km/h
 13. 2001: 33:21 Juan Miguel Mercado 21.95 km/h
 14. 2005: 33:26 Francisco Mancebo 21.89 km/h
 15. 2000: 33:27 Óscar Sevilla 21.88 km/h
 16. 2000: 33:29 Santos Gonzalez 21.86 km/h
 17. 2000: 33:31 Roberto Laiseka 21.84 km/h
 18. 2005: 33:35 Eladio Jimenez 21.80 km/h
 19. 2007: 33:37 Cadel Evans 21.77 km/h
 20. 2012: 33:41 Alejandro Valverde 21.73 km/h
 21. 2012: 33:41 Joaquim Rodriguez 21.73 km/h
 22. 2012: 33:41 Alberto Contador 21.73 km/h
 23. 2000: 33:43 Raimundas Rumsas 21.71 km/h
 24. 2000: 33:44 Angel Casero 21.70 km/h
 25. 2000: 33:44 Igor González de Galdeano 21.70 km/h

 26. 2000: 33:44 Pavel Tonkov 21.70 km/h
 27. 2000: 33:48 Txema Del Olmo 21.66 km/h
 28. 2005: 33:52 Samuel Sanchez 21.61 km/h
 29. 2001: 33:54 Oscar Sevilla 21.59 km/h
 30. 2012: 33:54 Nairo Quintana 21.59 km/h
 31. 2012: 34:04 Igor Anton 21.49 km/h
 32. 2000: 34:05 Richard Virenque 21.48 km/h
 33. 2007: 34:06 Manuel Beltrán 21.47 km/h
 34. 2007: 34:06 Oscar Pereiro Sio 21.47 km/h
 35. 2010: 34:11 Ezequiel Mosquera 21.41 km/h
 36. 2005: 34:16 Roberto Laiseka 21.36 km/h
 37. 2012: 34:16 Tomasz Marczynski 21.36 km/h
 38. 2012: 34:16 Robert Gesink 21.36 km/h
 39. 2012: 34:16 Winner Anacona 21.36 km/h
 40. 2012: 34:16 Andrew Talansky 21.36 km/h
 41. 2012: 34:16 Bart De Clercq 21.36 km/h
 42. 2012: 34:16 Przemyslaw Niemiec 21.36 km/h
 43. 2012: 34:16 Daniel Moreno 21.36 km/h
 44. 2012: 34:16 Christopher Froome 21.36 km/h
 45. 2012: 34:16 Benat Intxausti 21.36 km/h
 46. 2005: 34:18 Ruben Plaza 21.34 km/h
 47. 2001: 34:19 Joseba Beloki 21.33 km/h
 48. 2012: 34:20 Gorka Verdugo 21.32 km/h
 49. 2010: 34:22 Vincenzo Nibali 21.30 km/h
 50. 2010: 34:22 Peter Velits 21.30 km/h

 51. 2010: 34:22 Joaquim Rodriguez 21.30 km/h
 52. 2007: 34:23 Vladimir Efimkin 21.29 km/h
 53. 2012: 34:24 Laurens Ten Dam 21.28 km/h
 54. 2007: 34:32 José Ángel Gómez Marchante 21.20 km/h
 55. 2005: 34:36 Tom Danielson 21.16 km/h
 56. 2001: 34:38 Jose María Jimenez 21.14 km/h
 57. 2005: 34:38 Oscar Pereiro 21.14 km/h
 58. 2007: 34:38 Samuel Sánchez 21.14 km/h
 59. 2007: 34:39 Igor Antón 21.13 km/h
 60. 2005: 34:40 Carlos Garcia Quesada 21.12 km/h
 61. 2010: 34:41 Tom Danielson 21.11 km/h
 62. 2001: 34:42 José Luis Rubiera 21.10 km/h
 63. 2001: 34:42 David Plaza 21.10 km/h
 64. 2001: 34:42 Manuel Beltran 21.10 km/h
 65. 2001: 34:42 Angel Casero 21.10 km/h
 66. 2001: 34:42 Roberto Heras 21.10 km/h
 67. 2001: 34:42 Fernando Escartin 21.10 km/h
 68. 2001: 34:42 Aitor Osa 21.10 km/h
 69. 2001: 34:42 Roberto Laiseka 21.10 km/h
 70. 2012: 34:42 Rigoberto Uran 21.10 km/h
 71. 2000: 34:45 Fernando Escartín 21.06 km/h
 72. 2005: 34:55 Iñigo Cuesta 20.96 km/h
 73. 2001: 34:58 Iban Mayo 20.93 km/h
 74. 2007: 34:58 Josep Jufré 20.93 km/h
 75. 2010: 34:58 Nicolas Roche 20.93 km/h

 76. 2010: 34:58 Frank Schleck 20.93 km/h
 77. 2012: 34:58 Rinaldo Nocentini 20.93 km/h
 78. 2010: 34:59 Carlos Sastre 20.92 km/h
 79. 2000: 35:01 Haimar Zubeldia 20.90 km/h
 80. 2000: 35:02 Andrei Zintchenko 20.89 km/h
 81. 2007: 35:06 Vladimir Karpets 20.85 km/h
 82. 2000: 35:07 Oscar Camenzind 20.84 km/h
 83. 2000: 35:07 José Luis Rubiera 20.84 km/h
 84. 2000: 35:07 Marco Magnani 20.84 km/h
 85. 2000: 35:07 Wladimir Belli 20.84 km/h
 86. 2007: 35:11 Sylvester Szmyd 20.81 km/h
 87. 2012: 35:11 Maxime Monfort 20.81 km/h
 88. 2012: 35:11 Nicolas Roche 20.81 km/h
 89. 2000: 35:16 Alberto Lopez de Munain 20.76 km/h
 90. 2005: 35:16 Mauricio Ardila 20.76 km/h
 91. 2005: 35:17 Juan Miguel Mercado 20.75 km/h
 92. 2005: 35:17 Javier Pascual Rodriguez 20.75 km/h
 93. 2012: 35:17 Marcos Garcia 20.75 km/h
 94. 2007: 35:18 Xabier Zandio 20.74 km/h
 95. 2005: 35:19 Joan Horrach 20.73 km/h
 96. 2005: 35:19 Daniel Atienza 20.73 km/h
 97. 2007: 35:20 Luis Perez 20.72 km/h
 98. 2005: 35:21 Aitor Gonzalez 20.71 km/h
 99. 2010: 35:22 David Moncoutie 20.70 km/h
 100.2005: 35:23 Koos Moerenhout 20.69 km/h

Important mention:
This "Top 100" contains only the ascents after the year 2000, when the Vuelta organizers choosed a new finish line, placed on another local road. The absolute record of speed on Lagos de Covadonga is owned by Pavel Tonkov, in 1997.

Time ascents on Lagos de Covadonga, Vuelta's sanctuary

Lagos de Covadonga
2012:12,2 km@7,0%---33:41---average speed 21.73 km/h(Valverde-Rodriguez-Contador)
                              ---35:55---average speed 20.38 km/h(Antonio Piedra)
2010:12,2 km@7,0%---34:11---average speed 21.41 km/h(Ezequiel Mosquera)
                              ---37:21---average speed 19.60 km/h(Carlos Barredo)

2007:12,2 km@7,0%---33:15---average speed 22.02 km/h(Piepoli-Menchov-Sastre)
                              ---34:23---average speed 21.29 km/h(Vladimir Efimkin)
2005:12,2 km@7,0%---32:22---average speed 22.62 km/h(Gilberto Simoni)
                              ---33:35---average speed 21.80 km/h(Eladio Jimenez)

2001:12,2 km@7,0%---33:21---average speed 21.95 km/h(Juan Miguel Mercado)
2000:12,2 km@7,0%---32:29---average speed 22.53 km/h(Roberto Heras)
                              ---35:02---average speed 20.89 km/h(Andrei Zintchenko)

1997:12,8 km@7,0%---33:47---average speed 22.73 km/h(Pavel Tonkov)-RECORD
1996:12,8 km@7,0%---34:20---average speed 22.37 km/h(Jalabert-Zulle)

1989:12,5 km@7,2%---38:21---average speed 19.56 km/h(Oscar de Jesus Vargas)
                              ---38:36---average speed 19.43 km/h(Alvaro Pino)
1985:12,5 km@7,2%---39:27---average speed 19.01 km/h(Pedro Delgado)

Important mention:
Until the year 2000, the finish line was placed at the end of an another local road, the riders racing a different, more difficult last kilometer.