Vuelta 2021 Favourites stage 3: First mountain top finish

The finish climb served as a stage finale at the Vuelta a Burgos in the last four editions. In succession, Mikel Landa (2017), Miguel Ángel López (2018), Iván Sosa (2019) and Remco Evenepoel (2020) took the spoils.

The rolling run-up to the foot of the Picón Blanco is pepped up with two sections standing out. Early on, the Puerto de Manquillo brings 11 kilometres at 3.3% to the table, while the Alto de Bocos is crested 10 kilometres before the final haul up. This is a 2 kilometres climb at 7.8% before levelling out to 3% in the last kilometre.

Obviously, the race comes down to the Picón Blanco. The 7.8 kilometres at 9.3% peaks out at 15% in the final kilometre.

The question that looms above the race is whether or not the breakaway will be given enough leash to fight for the stage win. If so, the stage winner is likely to ride into the red jersey.

Favourites 3rd stage 2021 Vuelta a España

*** Lawson Craddock, David de la Cruz, Wout Poels, Mauri Vansevenant
** Adam Yates, Primoz Roglic, Egan Bernal, Giulio Ciccone, Romain Bardet
* Jesús Herrada, Jan Polanc, Felix Großschartner, Kenny Elissonde, Joe Dombrowski

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage of the 2021 Vuelta.