The route climbs from the start, first false flat, then on the Puerto de los Yesos. The mountain pass is crested at kilometre 19.5. Straight after the descent the route goes back up again. This is the Puerto de Onsares.
A more quiet phase leads to the base of the Puerto de Navalperal, an ascent of 8.1 kilometres with its crest just before the midwaymarker of the stage.
The longest climb of the day is the 16.5 kilometres drag up the Garganta de Hornos. Yet, the gradients are shallow, less than 3% on average.
The downhill is even more shallow and then the last climb of the day appears. The Despiernacaballos pass is 10.6 kilometres long and averages 5.6%. The riders plunge down to Santiago de la Espada before entering the slightly uphill home straight.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 1.
Another interesting read: results 1st stage 2023 Ruta del Sol.
Ruta del Sol 2023 – stage 1: route, profile, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Overview - Ruta del Sol 2023 Sprint triumph Fraile, Pogacar seals GC win - Ruta del Sol 2023 Pogacar scores hattrick to cement lead - Ruta del Sol 2023 Wellens wins in Alcalá de los Gazules, Pogacar still leader - Ruta del Sol 2023 Pogacar cements GC lead on steep cobbled climb - Ruta del Sol 2023 Route stage 2: Diezma - Alcalá la Real - Ruta del Sol 2023 Route stage 3: Alcalá de Guadaira - Alcalá de los Gazules - Ruta del Sol 2023 Route stage 4: Olvera - Iznájar - Ruta del Sol 2023 Route stage 5: Otura - Alhaurín de la Torre - Ruta del Sol 2023 More articles Giro 2026: Route
Giro d'Italia: Winners and records
Tour de France 2026: Route
Tour de France 2026: Riders
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 1: Barcelona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 2: Tarragona - Barcelona
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 3: Granollers - Les Angles
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 4: Carcassonne - Foix
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 5: Lannemezan - Pau
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 6: Pau - Gavarnie-Gèdre
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 7: Hagetmau – Bordeaux
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 8: Périgueux - Bergerac
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 9: Malemort – Ussel
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 10: Aurillac - Le Lioran
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 11: Vichy - Nevers
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 12: Magny-Cours – Chalon-sur-Saône
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 13: Dole – Belfort
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 14: Mulhouse - Le Markstein
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 15: Champagnole - Plateau de Solaison
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 16: Evian-les-Bains - Thonon-les-Bains
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 17: Chambéry – Voiron
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 18: Voiron - Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 19: Gap - Alpe d’Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 20: Bourg d'Oissans - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2026 Route stage 21: Thoiry - Paris
Tour de France: Winners and records
Cycling Calendar 2026