Vuelta 2022 Favourites stage 20: Last chance for climbers

The first 10 kilometres are virtually flat and then the route starts to undulate towards the foot of the Puerto de Navacerrada, which is a 10.3 kilometres climb at 6.8%. A descent and 30 kilometres on the flat later the Puerto de Navafría looms. It’s more of the same, yet slightly less steep: 10.3 kilometres at 5.4%. The riders are halfway when they reacht the summit.

The second half of the race takes in the Puerto de Canencia (7.5 kilometres at 4.9%) and Puerto de la Morcuera (9.4 kilometres at 6.9%) before a downhill and 10 kilometres through the valley make way for the last ascent of La Vuelta. The Puerto de Cotos is a 10.3 kilometres climb at 6.9%. After almost 7 kilometres on a plateau the finish line appears.

Three years ago the Morcuera and Cotos also made up the finale of the last mountain stage, although the finish was in the valley, after a 20 kilometres descent. That day, Sergio Higuita soloed to triumph. The Colombian attacked in the Morcuera descent and he held off the chasing GC riders by 17 seconds.

Favourites 20th stage 2022 Vuelta a España

*** Remco Evenepoel, Enric Mas, Miguel Ángel López
** Richard Carapaz, Thibaut Pinot, Marc Soler, Juan Ayuso
* Alejandro Valverde, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Robert Gesink, Mikel Landa

Another interesting read: route 20th stage 2022 Vuelta.