Vuelta 2020 Favourites stage 2: Climbers with descending skills

The finale of the 2nd stage features the steep en irregular Alto de San Miguel. Striking on the most demanding ramps and extending the lead in the descent could be the recipe for success. (Slideshow route/profile)

The climb to the Sancuary of San Miguel de Aralar is 9.4 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 7.9%, which is a meagre indicator of the actual difficulty of the climb. Ramps at 15% play leapfrog with false flat sections, while the road turns into a bumpy concrete track at times. So the ascent is much harder than the statistics suggest.

The course leading onto the Alto de San Miguel is not very special. Two modest climbs and a lot of flat to rolling roads. So the battle for the stage win – and probably the GC as well – will come down to the ascent and the ensuing descent.

Attackers should be aware of a false flat stretch inside the last 3 kilometres, while the last 500 meters are pan-flat.

Sprint of a select group or will we see a solo triumph?

Favourites 2nd stage 2020 Vuelta a España

*** Richard Carapaz, Primoz Roglic, Andrea Bagioli
** Tom Dumoulin, Matej Mohoric, Enric Mas, Luis León Sánchez
* Davide Formolo, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Wout Poels, David Gaudu

Another interesting read: route 2nd stage of the 2020 Vuelta.