Ruta del Sol 2024 Route stage 3: Benahavís - La Línea de la Concepción

Sunday 18 February - The riders travel from Benahavís to La Línea de la Concepción on the last day of the Ruta del Sol. The race amounts to 172.4 kilometres, while the elevation gain adds up to almost 3,000 metres. All climbing is done in the first 95 kilometres, the second part is flat.

[Stage is cancelled]

According to some rumours, the 2025 Vuelta a España will begin in Gibraltar with a short ITT for climbers. This year’s Ruta del Sol will surely end in the shadow of the Rock. The 5th stage is going to finish in La Línea de la Concepción, right next to the Gibraltar–Spain border.

Starting venue Benahavís is situated to the west of Marbella. The route climbs from the gun. And not just a wee bit, but it’s a 22 kilometres long test with an average gradient of almost 5%. The route then levels out for a few kilometres, only to ascend to the highest point of the day at an elevation of 1,113 metres.

A 30 kilometres descent takes the riders passed the town of Ronda before the following climb begins just after Benaoján. It’s a 5.4 kilometres drag with an average gradient of 4.1%. Right after the descent the riders clamber out of the valley on a 1 kilometre ramp at roughly 10%. The route then continues to rise flat to Cortes de la Frontera.

Following the downhill into Cañada del Real Tesoro, the Puerto del Espino is the second KOM-worthy ascent of the day. It’s not as demanding as the climb from the start – the Espino is 9.1 kilometres long and averaging 5.1% The riders reach the summit with 77 kilometres remaining.

The Ruta del Sol then descends to San Pablo de Buceite for a finale on the flat. The riders pass through Jimena de la Frontera, San Roque, Puente Mayorga and Campamento before the race comes to an end on the Avenida del Ejército in La Línea de la Concepción, 650 metres from the border between Spain and the UK.

Last year’s Ruta del Sol finished with a bunch sprint in Alhaurín de la Torre. Omar Fraile took the stage win, while Tadej Pogacar sealed the overall victory.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 5.

The 5th stage of the Ruta del Sol starts at 10:45 and the race is expected to finish around 15:15 – both are local times (CET).