Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 12: Attackers with climbing legs and descending skills
The 12th stage of the Vuelta a España is played out on a two-faced route. The opening section is on the flat before the riders face two huge climbs in the second half of the race. The finish in Antequera is 17.5 kilometres after the last peak. The last climb, El Torcal, is 7.6 kilometres at 7% and after cresting a long descent runs to a flat finale. (Slideshow route/profile)
In the first 80 kilometres of the 12th stage in the Vuelta the route runs along the Costa del Col. This stretch is almost entirely flat until the riders turn right near Rincón de la Victoria. They hit the mountains of Axarquia and set sail for the Montes de Malaga. Firstly, the Puerto del Léon, which is a huge and irregular climb of 17.4 kilometres. The toughest part is a 900 metres Muro at 12% shortly after the village Olías.
A rolling descent leads to the base of the second and last climb. The Puerto del Torcal is an 7.6 kilometres ascent with an average gradient of 7%. The summit and the finish line are 17.5 kilometres apart, most of which is downhill. Yet, the last kilometre runs slightly uphill.
The first 80 kilometres along the Costa del Sol are perfect for a break away to distance the bunch. During the toil up the Puerto del Léon and Puerto del Torcal the best climber(s) will come to the fore before the descent to Antequera is probably going to limit the number of possible stage winners even further.
If the stage boils down to a clash between the GC contenders, we can expect the likes of Vincenzo Nibali to showcase their descending skills in the finale.
Favourites 12th stage 2017 Vuelta
*** Luis León Sánchez, Rui Costa, Jarlinson Pantano, Bart De Clercq
** Julian Alaphilippe, Thomas de Gendt, Matej Mohoric, Enric Mas, Alexis Gougeard
* Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome, Simon Yates, Adam Yates
Vuelta 2017 stage 12: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles The Route - Vuelta 2017 Riders - Vuelta 2017 Withdrawals - Vuelta 2017 Favourites - Vuelta 2017 Start times time trial - Vuelta 2017 GC Favourites - Vuelta 2017 More articles Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Giro 2025: The Route
Giro 2025 Route stage 1: Durazzo - Tirana
Giro 2025 Route stage 9: Gubbio - Siena
Giro 2025 Route stage 19: Biella – Champoluc
Giro 2025 Route stage 20: Verrès – Sestrière
UAE Tour 2025: The Route
UAE Tour 2025: Riders
Ruta del Sol 2025: The Route
Ruta del Sol 2025: Riders
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025: The Route
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025: Riders
Strade Bianche 2025: The Route
Strade Bianche 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025: The Route