The Vuelta's route management team seem to have been unable to resist including a climb late on in what otherwise would have been a perfect stage for the sprinters, who continue to have a hard time throughout Spain's grand tour. Today's cat 3 test is not overly tough but the twisting roads that feature all day support the belief that this is a day on which a break could survive to the finish.
With the first mountain test to follow the next day, the main contenders may be quite happy to allow one of the lesser lights from a team seeking momentary breakaway glory to take the red jersey, knowing that it is sure to come back to one of them imminently. The gently rising finish in the beautiful city of Ronda will be spectacular.
Fernando Escartín says:
"We did think about finishing in the old part of the city but the roads aren't wide enough to accommodate a sprint. The third-category climb is a leg-breaker as it's quite long. It should be a spectacular finish as Ronda is such an amazing spot."
Copyright: lavuelta.com
-
'Suffering the entire day' - US U23 time trial champion Cole Kessler refocuses on Friday road race at Kigali Road Worlds
22-year-old applauds Lidl-Trek Future teammate on gold medal performance in under-23 ITT -
Road World Championships: Junior women and men time trial start times
Great Britain duo Erin Boothman and Dylan Sage favourites in race against the clock on Tuesday -
'No expectations' - Jakob Söderqvist ends under-23 career in rainbow jersey before starting next chapter on the WorldTour
'I don't want to build a box around me' - Swede hopes for Spring Classics campaign -
Remco Evenepoel loses key World Championships road captain as Tiesj Benoot tests positive for COVID-19
Belgian out of Sunday's road race selection, replaced by Louis Vervaeke
