Ruta del Sol 2022 Route stage 3: Lucena - Otura

In the Ruta del Sol’s recent history Otura served as a start on several occasions, but a finish is something else for the place in the shadows of the Sierra Nevada. It takes less than 50 kilometres to climb to the Pico Veleta, the highest paved peak in Europe, but the riders do not have to fear. They arrive from the opposite direction.

The riders clip into their pedals in Lucena, which lies halfway between Granada and Córdoba in the heart of Andulucía. On undulating terrain the route goes eastward. It’s not flat, but the hills (three times 3rd category, one 2nd category) are not very hard.

It’s been five years since the Ruta del Sol last visited Lucena. It was an ITT with start and finish in the town. Victor Campenaerts took the spoils ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador.