La Covatilla is a ski resort at an altitude of 1,962 metres, located 220 kilometres west of Madrid. Two years ago Ben King soloed to victory after attacking with Enric Mas with 20 kilometres out.
The official distance of the Covatilla climb is 9.8 kilometres with an average gradient 7.1%, which is really just scratching the surface. The finish climb rises multiple times at double digit gradients. The riders tackle the last 10% ramp with the flamme rouge flying over their head before the climb flattens out. The last 900 metres goes up at around 4%.
But the actual finish climb in itself is not the tricky part, the preceding climbing metres are. The race serves five ascents before the ultimate haul up finally kicks in.
La Covatilla hosted La Vuelta on five occasions. Ben King succeeded Dan Martin (2011), Danilo di Luca (2006), Félix Cárdenas (2004) and Santi Blanco (2002).
Vuelta a España 2020 stage 17: profile, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Winners and records - Vuelta a España More articles Giro 2020: The Route
Giro 2020: Riders
Giro 2020: GC Favourites
Giro 2020 Route stage 1: Monreale - Palermo
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 1: First fight for pink
Giro 2020 Route stage 2: Alcamo - Agrigento
Giro 2020 Route stage 3: Enna - Etna
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 3: Climb fest on Moun Etna
Giro 2020 Route stage 4: Catania – Villafranca Tirrena
Giro 2020 Route stage 5: Mileto - Camigliatello Silano
Giro 2020 Route stage 6: Castrovillari - Matera
Giro 2020 Route stage 7: Matera- Brindisi
Giro 2020 Route stage 8: Giovanazzo - Vieste
Giro 2020 Route stage 9: San Salvo - Roccaraso
Giro 2020 Route stage 11: Porto Sant'Elpidio - Rimini
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 13: Back to the fast men, or...?
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 15: Battle for pink intensifies
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 17: Monster Mountains for HC climbers
Giro 2020 Route stage 18: Pinzolo – Laghi di Cancano
Giro 2020 Favourites stage 19: Last chance for fast finishers
World Cycling Championships 2020 Imola: Route Road Race – men
World Cycling Championships 2020 Imola: Riders Road Race – men
World Cycling Championships 2020 Imola: Route Road Race – women
World Cycling Championships 2020 Imola: Riders ITT – men
World Cycling Championships 2020 Imola: Route ITT – women
BinckBank Tour 2020: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2020
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2020: The Route
Vuelta 2020 Route stage 6: Biescas - Tourmalet
Tour de France 2020: Sam Bennett wins points competition
Tour de France 2020: The Route
Tour de France 2020: Riders
Tour de France 2020: Withdrawals
Tour de France: Winners and records
