Vuelta 2014 Route stage 6: Benalmádena – La Zubia

Thursday, August 28 – In stage 6 the first categorized mountains of the 2014 Vuelta are more than happy to welcome the riders. The ride is 167.1 kilometres from Benalmádena to La Zubia and is crowned with a closing climb to Cumbres Verdes – 1st category, top finish.

Vuelta 2014 Route stage 6: Benalmádena – La Zubia

The 1200 metres high closing climb is not a particularly long one, but what lacks in length is made up with the steepness. Joaquim Rodríguez will be pleased with the profile. The total length to La Zubia is only 4.6 kilometres from which the first 600 metres are partly flat. The following kilometres raise with 10 % , 10.4 %, 10 % and 8.9 % and the steepest part of the climb (12.8 %) is at 3.5 kilometres before the top. The very last metres are no picnic either with gradients of 12% in the last hundred meters.

The starting 50 kilometres look actually quite innocent and are as flat as the Tour of Qatar. After an introductory climb, in order of appearance, Alto de Zaffarara (2nd category) and Alto de Bermejal (3rd) are desperate to claim the spotlights. The last summit is reached after 116.8 kilometres in the saddle. For the next 30 kilometres there is really nothing to worry about, until the riders arrive in La Zubia and the climb to Cumbres Verdes awaits them.

You can follow the race here.

The finish is expected around 17:40 (CET).