Vuelta 2020 Route stage 5: Huesca

Vuelta 2020 Route stage 5: Huesca - Sabiñánigo

Saturday 24 October - The 8th stage on La Vuelta is played out in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Following a gently rolling route for 115 kilometres the last 70 kilometres are quite demanding. The last 16 kilometres descent into Sabiñánigo.

The first part of the 8th stage is likely to see plenty of action. The terrain is no too demanding, so virtually all riders could give it a shot to make it into the breakaway. Winning the race is something else though with three climb in the last 70 kilometres.

The first uphill is the Alto de Vio: a narrow road of 12.8 kilometres to an elevation of 1,265 metres. It is a steady climb with an average gradient of 4.5%.

Following a short downhill the route continues to climb to the highest point of the day. The Alto de Fanlo is 7.4 kilometer long and rises mostly at around 4%. Yet, the last kilometres serve a number of section at double digit gradients.

The Fanlo peaks out at 1,365 metres before the riders fly down a 22 kilometres descent to Fiscal. It is here that Alto de Petralba, an ascent on a wide road with two tunnels. The first three kilometres and a section halfway – right after the Berroy tunnel – are toughest with ramps up to 9.5%. The second tunnel is 2.6 kilometres long and ends just before the summit.

The last 16 kilometres are played out on the same wide road. After cresting the Petralbla the route runes virtually all downhill into Sabiñánigo.

Greg Van Avermaet is the last rider to win a Vuelta stage in the town in the foothills of the Pyrenees. In 2008, the Olympic champion of Rio outgunned Davide Rebellin and Juan Antonio Flecha.