Stage 20 | Corvera de Asturias | Alto de l’Angliru | Vuelta a España 2017

The Angliru had all the ingredients to create an epic stage to decide the Vuelta a España. Epic is an over-used word in professional cycling but in this case it applied.

The steep gradient, the long climb and the miserable weather made it a test that would add an element of risk to proceedings.

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, Lionel Birnie and Fran Reyes have their own battle to the top of the Angliru. Once there, they report on Alberto Contador’s final victory as a professional, and Chris Froome’s first Vuelta title, which he adds to the Tour de France he won in July.

We hear from Russia’s Ilnur Zakarin of Katusha, who managed to climb up to third overall, and from Canada’s Michael Woods of Cannondale-Drapac, who consolidated his place in the top ten.

There’s also a culinary update on the traditional Asturian dish of cachopo.

The Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Science in Sport.