A stage that is the antithesis of the Vuelta itself, a 32km time trial to the “Oscar Freire Sports Complex”, named in tribute to the three time world champion who is from the finish town. He’ll probably pop up later today when people least expect it.
The first long summit finish. The Vuelta doesn’t have many mythical climbs, there’s no Ventoux nor Stelvio but the Lagos de Covadonga are the closest the race gets, a climb that’s been a regular since the 1980s and climbed for the 21st time today.
A hard day in the Vuelta, what it lacks in high altitude it makes up for with steep roads and a very tough finish.
A summit finish at La Camperona, notionally 8km at 7.5% which would be hard enough but it’s got sections above 15% and moments above 20%.
On paper a day for a breakaway again, on tarmac there’s a chance for surprises in the finish. Tomorrow’s summit finish will weigh on the mind for the GC contenders but for the others there’s the stage win.
The first big summit finish of the Vuelta to the ski station of La Covatilla. It’s live on TV from start to finish.
An uphill finish that’s made for Peter Sagan, the Slovak has had a slow start to the race but popped up to take second place yesterday. Meanwhile the main GC contenders will try to rest ahead of tomorrow’s big summit finish.
A breakaway or a bunch sprint? Today’s stage isn’t as hard as a profile suggests but it’s more difficult that the roadbook says. Which might just suit the breakaway…
