Vuelta 2020 Favourites stage 6: Attackers or GC clash?

On paper, the 6th stage is tailor made for a successful breakaway. The re-routed parcours features 3,040 vertical metres, which is meagre in comparison to the original route with a summit finish at the Tourmalet, but still, recent Vuelta history shows that damage can be done on this course. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 15th stage of the 2016 Vuelta a España was almost a carbon copy of this year’s 6th stage. That day, Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador joined forces to put Chris Froome to the sword with a long-distance raid. Another victim was Esteban Chaves, while Gianluca Brambilla, who was one of the breakaway companions of the two master minds, won the stage.

The revamped stage takes in the Alto de Petralbo (6.5 kilometres at 4.7%) and Puerto de Cotefablo (13 kilometres at 4%) before a summit finish in ski resort Aramón Formigal. The last ascent is 14.5 kilometres long and the average gradients sits at 4.6%.

So yes, in theory one would expect a successful breakaway, but still…

Favourites 6th stage 2020 Vuelta a España

*** Tim Wellens, Rémi Cavagna, Thymen Arensman
** Rui Costa, Ion Izagirre, Guillaume Martin, Mikel Nieve
* Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, Jetse Bol, Alex Aranburu

Another interesting read: route 6th stage of the 2020 Vuelta.