As the iconic Alto de l'Angliru once again returns to the Vuelta a España in 2025 for stage 13, so will one of its key animators in modern history – Wout Poels (XDS-Astana), with the Dutchman looking to add to his fifth, second and technically first-place finishes from 2023, 2017 and 2011.
While the violently steep slopes of the Astruian icon strike fear into the hearts of many a bike rider, Poels has embraced them throughout his career, and – even while riding for teammates such as Chris Froome and Mikel Landa – has been at his very best there.
