The route is going either up or down for most of the day before the finale opens inside the last 17 kilometers – that is, at the foot of the Puerto de Locubín. The 8.5 kilometres ascent at 4.8% is crested with 7.8 kilometres to go. The riders plunge down into Valdepeñas de Jáen to enter the steep finish climb.
The first uphill kick appears with 1.6 kilometres, but the actual climb begins under the flamme rouge. The road kicks up to 30% in the last kilometre.
Given the terrain it will not be easy to control the breakaway, so attackers could have it their way. Yet, GC riders fighting for the stage win is a scenario that is not to be ruled out entirely either.
Favourites 11th stage 2021 Vuelta a España
*** Michael Matthews, Magnus Cort, Primoz Roglic, Andrea Bagioli
** Adam Yates, Romain Bardet, Aleksandr Vlasov, Michael Storer
* Sepp Kuss, Mauri Vansevenant, Wout Poels, Kenny Elissonde
Another interesting read: route 11th stage of the 2021 Vuelta.
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I always appreciate your favourites articles, and I hope you will do one for each stage before the Vuelta starts! 🙂