Distance: 174.3km
Category: Mountains
Highest point: 1,320m
After a year's absence, the Vuelta returns to one of its new favourite locations for a finish on the 'wall' in the centre of Valdepeñas de Jaén. The last two winners here were Igor Antón and Joaquim Rodríguez, and it would be no surprise to see another flyweight climber win on the 20 per cent ramps that make this finish so special. Although the countryside in deepest Andalucia is rugged, this stage is straightforward until its end. It bumps along to the third-category Fraile pass, which is not too demanding. The day's escapees should survive as far as the final ascent but past form suggests one of the GC contenders will sweep by them there.
Yvon Ledanois: "You would expect one of the specialist climbers to come out on top here. It's certainly not a profile that will suit the riders in our team, although nothing is impossible. The final climb is very hard but if a group comes to it with a good gap, they might hold on."
Don't forget to download the Cyclingnews Tour Tracker mobile app for live coverage of the Vuelta!
-
European Gravel Championships: Mads Würtz Schmidt and Erica Magnaldi secure the titles in Italy
Rosa Klöser slips away from top spot when she punctures with 8km to go -
Rochester Cyclocross Race: Manon Bakker and Eric Brunner win elite C1 races in second round of US Cyclocross Series
Maghalie Rochette, Sydney McGill on podium for elite women while US cyclocross champion Andrew Strohmeyer, Tyler Clark go second, third for elite men -
Road World Championships: under-23 women and men time trial start times
Zoe Bäckstedt the pre-race favourite, as Jakob Söderqvist is the rider to beat in the U23 men’s contest -
Kigali conditions see top riders falter in elite time trials, but can they turn it around before the road races? – World Championships analysis
Heat, air quality and altitude takes a toll on several riders in what one called 'literally the hardest TT of my life'
