August 30, Stage 9: Torrevieja - Cumbre del Sol 168.3 km
A vicious final climb will see the explosive climbers come to the fore
Like the previous day, the finale of this stage features a double crossing of a climb. However, the Cumbre del Sol is not only a tougher proposition than the Cresta del Gallo but the finish is also located at its summit.
It’s the only difficulty of a day that passes through regular training camp territory on the Costa Blanca. The riders don’t go all the way to the top on the first passage over the Cumbre del Sol. As such, it’s rated as second category. On the second ascent, they tackle its full 3.5km, averaging 11 per cent, with sections at close to 20.
It looks to be an ideal opportunity for explosive climbers like Joaquim Rodríguez but the time gaps between the GC hitters won’t be large.
José Luis Arrieta (Movistar DS):
"This is a new finish but I’m sure some of the riders will know this climb from all of the training camps in this area. Those who don’t will get a good look at most of it, before the final test. The gradient should suit Alejandro and Nairo, who are likely to be our leaders, so this could be a good day for us."
The text in this preview originally appeared in the September edition of Procycling magazine.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Rohan Dennis signs for Team Ineos
Time trial world champion's future finally resolved after Bahrain-Merida fall-out -
Rolf Aldag joins Canyon-SRAM after leaving Dimension Data
Experienced German describes himself as a rookie as Canyon-SRAM prepare for women's WorldTour status -
10 neo-pros to watch in 2020
WorldTour teams snap up young talent -
Roval Terra CLX wheelset review
New Roval Terra CLX gravel wheels are not only incredibly light but also super-wide, providing superlative traction and performance levels across all terrain types
Cyclingnews Newsletter
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy