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.
Javier Guillén says: "This is the only stage of more than 200km, which is very deliberate on our part. We want every stage to be explosive, to provide a spectacle for the hour or two that it's on TV. In addition, the Vuelta's at the end of the season and we are aware the riders are quite tired."
Copyright: lavuelta.com
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As it happened: Briton fastest on uphill sprint to win stage 4 at Tour Down Under
Extreme fire danger forces route change to 131km from Brighton to Willunga township -
'It was going to be 50/50 whether or not we had a stage today' – Changing the plans as altered Tour Down Under stage 4 survives the heat
Race director Stuart O'Grady said there was 'no hesitation' in making decision to remove Willunga Hill as 'it's sad from a racing point of view … but it's the most common sense and sensible decision for rider safety and public safety' -
Tour Down Under: Ethan Vernon wins wind-buffeted shortened stage 4 as second overall Jhonatan Narváez crashes out
Tobias Lund Andersen second and Laurence Pithie third while Jay Vine retained lead on penultimate stage -
Jhonatan Narváez crashes on stage 4 of Tour Down Under, rider who started the day in second place abandons
UAE Team Emirates-XRG defending champion falls in early stages of shortened stage
