[Underneath article was written before the start of the Tour of Valencia and has not been updated.]
Not only does the 4th stage include 2,884 vertical metres, the race also serves a finish climb that should open up considerable time gaps. The uphill drag in the Sierra de Bernia is not particularly long – 5.3 kilometres -, but it surely is steep. The average gradient sits at 11.2%, while the steepest ramps go up at 24%.
The first time gaps will be opened up on the second day of action though. With a vertical gain of 1,772 metres, the route itself is not as demanding as the Queen Stage’s, but the punchy climb to the line is going to do damage. The final haul up to the weather station above Cullera climbs 2 kilometres at more than 10% before leveling out, only to kick up to 21% again just before the line.
Three former winners line-up in Valencia: Wout Poels (2016), Alejandro Valverde (2018) and Ion Izagirre (2019).
Favourites 2020 Tour of Valencia
*** Michal Kwiatkowski, Tadej Pogacar, Alejandro Valverde
** Wout Poels, Dylan Teuns, Marc Soler
* Gianni Moscon, Ion Izagirre, Óscar Rodríguez