Starting in Monforte de Lemos, the first 82 kilometres offer a large loop around the city on the Rio Cabe. No real climbs, rolling roads at most. After the passage through Monforte de Lemos the peloton heads south.
Straight away, the course gets more hilly and with 115.9 kilometres done Alto Alenza is crested, a 2nd category climb. After a two-staged descent the Alto de Mirador de Cabezoas looms, an uncategorised climb that’s peaking with 18 kilometres to go.
The finale holds another surprise in store. With 5.5 kilometres left the riders tackle the Pombar-climb. The slope goes up at around 5%, while the peak is crested with 3.3 kilometres remaining. Following a flat section the penultimate kilometres is a plunge down before the closing kilometres is marked by a 3% gradient.
The backdrop of the last kilometres is breathtaking. The narrow road meanders next to the River Sil. The area is known as Ribeira Sacra, famous for its wines.
Time bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting for the first three riders, while 3, 2 and 1 seconds are to be gained at the intermediate sprint at 114 kilometres.
Results / race report 6th stage, 2016 Vuelta a España.
Vuelta a España 2016 stage 6: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
Click on the images to zoom