In order of appearance the riders tackle the intermediate ascends up the Puerto la Llacuna (10 kilometres at 6% and ramps up to 17%), Puerto de Benilloba (5.7 kilometres at 3.9%), Puerto de Tudon (7.3 kilometres at 5.2%), Puerto El Collao (8.6 kilometres at 4.9%), and Puerto de Tibi (6.4 kilometres at 4.9%).
A huge battle for the breakaway is to be expected on the wildly irregular Puerto la Llacuna. The riders reach the summit after 17 kilometres before entering an undulating phase in the race. The second peak, Puerto de Benilloba, is crested at kilometre 60.7. By now, the breakaway should be firmly established.
The finale happens on the ascent to the Balcón de Alicante. The climb is similar to the Arrate Sanctuary climb, which served as the finale of last year’s 1st stage. Back then, Primoz Roglic took the win by outperforming a group of six with a late attack in the slightly downhill last kilometre. Richard Carapaz finishes in second, Dan Martin in third.
The Balcón de Alicante is a 4.4 kilometres climb at 8.2% with large chunks going up at double digits. The climb ramps up to 17% in the midde section, while the last 600 metres are a false flat downhill.
The big question remains: breakaway day or GC clash?
Favourites 7th stage 2021 Vuelta a España
*** Wout Poels, Gorka Izagirre, Thymen Arensman, Gino Mäder
** Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone, Egan Bernal
* Ion Izagirre, Omar Fraile, Mauri Vansevenant, Jan Hirt, Quinn Simmons
Another interesting read: route 7th stage of the 2021 Vuelta.