Ruta del Sol 2018: The Route

The 2018 Ruta del Sol is played out from 14 February to 18 February. The five-day stage-race is characterized by two summit finishes and one individual time trial. Alejandro Valverde is title holder. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 1st stage of the Ruta del Sol travels to Granada, as it did last year, when Alejandro Valverde outsprinted a select group at the end of a mountainous finale. This time however, the last climb is crested with 40 kilometres remaining before a rolling section runs to the finish in Granada.

Stage 2 finishes with a steep finale at the Alto de Allanadas. Following a hilly stage, the closing climb amounts to 4.5 kilometres and the last 3 kilometres are averaging 12.8%. The full climb goes up at 10.8%.

The 3rd stage is a likely fast finishers showdown in the streets of Herrera.

The Ruta del Sol's 4th stage runs to Alcalá de los Gazules. Amounting to 194.7 kilometres, the race takes in a number of intermediate climbs before a summit finish after a punchy 2 kilometres ascent

Stage 5 is a 14.2 kilometres ITT with a 5 kilometres section on unpaved roads shortly after the start.