The Vuelta’s third and final stage in Portugal brings the race from Lousã to Castelo Branco near the Spanish border. The stage is the toughest of the triptych on paper, but its configuration surely gives the sprinters more than a fighting chance of battling for the honours at day’s end.
The category 2 Alto de Texeira comes after 84km, and there is some rugged terrain on the plateau that follows. The category 4 Alto del Alpendrinha, however, is followed by a flat and fast final 40km, which gives the sprinters’ teams ample time to chase down the day’s break.
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