Vuelta a España 2021: Stage 16 preview
August 31: Laredo - Santa Cruz de Bezana, 180km
Stage 16: Laredo - Santa Cruz de Bezana
Date: August 31, 2021
Distance: 180km
Stage timing: 13:00 - 17:30 CEST
Stage type: Flat
Vuelta a España stage 16 preview video
You can’t fail to be impressed with the planning that’s gone into stage 16 of the Vuelta a España - a 180-kilometre stage in the rugged northern region of Cantabria that features just one categorised climb and only rises above 100 metres in altitude a handful of times all day. Race director Fernando Escartín has set this up for a bunch finish, and any sprinters that are left in the field will be determined to take advantage, as it’s the last opportunity they’ll get in this race, which concludes with a time trial rather than the traditional road stage on a fast circuit in central Madrid.
After a transfer north on the rest day, this stage gets underway in eastern Cantabria at Laredo, tracking the Atlantic coast to begin with. At Noja, the route jags south through Beranga to Riaño, then turns again, this time to the west, skirting the Cabárceno Natural Park, where the Peña Cabarga climb that’s hosted four finishes in recent seasons is located.
The only ascent today, though, is the third-category Alto de Hijas, which arrives just beyond half-distance. After this little test, the route continues on its long loop to the south of Santander. At Villanueva de la Peña, in the western part of the region, the riders will turn north and east, heading towards Santander, although not going quite the whole way. They’ll pass through the intermediate sprint at Santillana del Mar and speed on to the finish at Santa Cruz de Bezana, just to the west of Santander, where the final two kilometres are pan flat.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling. He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014).
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Baestaens takes sixth Rochester Cyclocross win on Day 2
Ferdinande second, Rouiller third on fourth of eighth stop for US Cyclocross Series -
Rochester Cyclocross Day 2: Rochette beats Holmgren to win two in a row
McGill third in USCX event as Canadian women sweep podium -
Jumbo-Visma, Soudal-QuickStep discuss potential merger
Proposed new 'super team' could become Visma-Soudal or Soudal-Visma as soon as 2024 -
Paris Olympic MTB Test Event: Loana Lecomte solos to victory
Frenchwoman beats Laura Stigger and world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot