Vuelta stages that don't feature a categorised climb of any kind are rare things. Consequently, the sprinters will be doubly determined to make the most of this fleeting opportunity. The wind could complicate things for them, however. The road across the open plains to Albacete is wide open, although the prevailing wind from the south-east could well push the bunch along at an accelerated pace rather than splitting it apart.
The finish in the centre of Albacete is ideal for the sprinters. The last time the Vuelta raced into the city in 2003, defending champion Aitor González abandoned before the finish and the Spaniard's Fassa Bortolo team-mate Alessandro Petacchi beat Erik Zabel to the finish line in the bunch sprint.
-
'It's a bit of an obsession to reach 100 wins' - Alexander Kristoff to pass the baton to younger brother Felix Ørn-Kristoff and retire at close of 2025 season
Norwegian's 19-year-old sibling a stage winner in Tour de Bretagne this week -
Tour de Romandie: Sam Watson wins prologue
Briton tops Ivo Oliveira and Ivan Romeo for first WorldTour victory -
The rocky pathway into pro cycling - Troy Fields overcomes concussion, broken bones to restart career with 'unfinished business' at US Nationals
21-year-old is ready to rejoin the peloton after a Challenge Mallorca crash and time off from being struck by driver of a car while training -
2025 Giro d'Italia stage 21 preview
June 1, 2025: Roma-Roma, 141km
