Vuelta 2022 Favourites stage 17: Breakaway day

The race is played out in a remote area in Spain, on the border between Andalucía and Extremadura. The day opens with 20 kilometres on descent and following a lumpy middle section the riders enter a gently rolling climb of over 20 kilometres. A short downhill then makes way for the finish climb to the Monasterio de Tentudía.

The first 3 kilometres go up at 6.1%. The climb then levels out before the last 4.3 kilometres climb at 7.5% to the line.

There is hardly anything to be gained for GC riders on such a course, while it’s way too hard for sprinters. That leaves only one option: attackers battling it out for the stage honours.

Favourites 17th stage 2022 Vuelta a España

*** Marc Soler, Richard Carapaz, Rein Taaramäe, Jay Vine
** Alexey Lutsenko, Lawson Craddock, Jesús Herrada, Thomas De Gendt
* Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde, Jan Bakelants, Louis Meintjes

Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2022 Vuelta.