Right after the start the riders enter the Santo Domingo climb. The 2.6 kilometres ascent features several sectors at more than 10%. The heart of the Santo Domingo is the hardest part with 1 kilometre at 9.1%.
After the summit the riders fly down a descent of approximately 9 kilometres before 2 kilometres on the flat lead onto the short finish climb in Etxebarria Park. The brutal 600 metres Wall serves stretches of 19%.
Bilbao is an important city in the Basque Country, not only economically, but for cycling as well. In 2019, the Vuelta a España saw Philippe Gilbert solo to victory from the breakaway, while the last Tour of the Basque Country stage finish in Bilbao was in 2017, when Primoz Roglic finished off a late attack.
Another interesting read: results stage 1 2021 Tour of the Basque Country.
Tour of the Basque Country 2021 stage 1: route, profile, more
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