The average gradient of the Mirador de Ezaro-climb, which is harsh, too. In 2012 Joaquim Rodriguez took a Vuelta-stage on this arrival, ahead of Contador and Valverde.
The Ezaro is familiar to the Wall of Huy, where La Fleche Wallonne is set to finish year in year out. Alejandro Valverde is title holder in the Belgian race with four wins, so one would consider the Spaniard to be top-favourite, yet the he is at the end of a long season. After finishing borth the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in top-10 on may wonder how fresh he will be in La Vuelta.
When Philippe Gilbert is back to his best form he is one of the major contender. He is a strong puncher with a fast sprint, who did win La Fleche Wallonne a few years ago. Same goes for Dani Moreno.
Last year Esteban Chaves took the first summit finish in La Vuelta a España.
Favourites 3rd stage Vuelta a España
*** Philippe Gilbert, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, Esteban Chaves
** Robert Gesink, Chris Froome, Pierre Latour
* Miguel Ángel López, Nairo Quintana, Samuel Sánchez, Daniel Moreno
Vuelta a España 2016 stage 3: height profile, route maps, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Vuelta 2016 Favourites - Vuelta 2016 GC Favourites - Vuelta 2016 More articles Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Zimmermann outguns Burgaudeau, Vingegaard still in yellow
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 6: Nantua - Crest-Voland
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie - Col de la Croix de Fer
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: GC Favourites
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble
Tour de Suisse 2023: The Route
Tour de Suisse 2023: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 1: Einsiedeln - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 3: Tafers - Villars-sur-Ollon
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 4: Monthey - Leukerbad
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 5: Fiesch - La Punt
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 6: La Punt - Oberwil-Lieli
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 7: Tübach - Weinfelden
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 8: Sankt Gallen - Abtwil
Cycling Calendar 2023
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Tour de France 2023: GC Favourites
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 5: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 7: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 8: Libourne - Limoges
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 9: Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme