Vuelta 2014 Route stage 9: Carboneras de Guadazón

Vuelta 2014 Route stage 9: Carboneras de Guadazón – Valdelinares

Sunday, August 31 - In 185 kilometres stage 9 of the 2014 Vuelta takes the riders from Carboneras de Guadazón to the ski resort of Valdelinares. Stage 6 was the first and this is the second mountain stage, containing three categorized cols.

The first part of today’s leg is rather inviting. Until 50 kilometres the route is slowly but steadily rising – and after a descent the recipe is repeated with 50 steadily rising kilometres. At that point the stage finally starts.

The second part opens with a col in category 3 (Puerto de Cabigordo, 1.600 altimeters), after which a col in category 2 (Alto San Rafael, 1.554 altimeters) takes over. The finish line is in the ski resort of Valdelinares, located at 1.975 meter and at the end of a 1st category climb. Ascent 1 and 2 are venomous, but manageable. The final climb to the top finish is an 8 kilometer long one with an average of 6.6 %.

No road is flat in the second part of the ride. It’s all going uphill and downhill, leading towards the finish line in the (small) ski resort of Aramón. The arrival town of Valdelinares did welcome the Vuelta before. The 2005 edition saw Roberto Heras take the stage.

You can follow the race here. The finish is expected around 17:40 (CET).