After three Dutch stages and an undulating opening of stage 4, the Puerto de Opakua is the first real uphill test of the Spanish Grand Tour. The 5 kilometres climb at 6.9% is crested at kilometre 61.9. So that’s only of interest to riders with an eye on the polka dot jersey, it will not impact the race results whatsoever.
The second climb is something else entirely. The Puerto de Herrera totals 7.3 kilometres and averages 4.8%, while most climbing metres are crammed together in the first part. Which is almost twice as steep as the second.
But, more importantly, the Puerto de Herrera is crested with 14 kilometres to go. Most of it goes dowhill before the road starts to incline again in the last 2.5 kilometres. Not steep at first, but the gradients kick up under the flamme rouge. The steepest sector at over 10% appears inside the last 500 metres.
Favourites 4th stage 2022 Vuelta a España
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Ethan Hayter
** Mads Pedersen, Primoz Roglic, Alejandro Valverde
* Daryl Impey, Sergio Higuita, Rudy Molard, João Almeida
Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2022 Vuelta.
Related articles Bennett still in green - Vuelta 20 The Route - Vuelta 20 Riders - Vuelta 20 Favourites - Vuelta 20 GC Favourites - Vuelta 20 More articles Giro 2023: Cavendish wins in Rome, Roglic seals GC triumph
Giro 2023 Route stage 21: Rome - Rome
Giro d'Italia: Winners and records
Giro 2023: Withdrawals
Giro 2023: The Route
Giro 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 1: Chambon-sur-Lac - Chambon-sur-Lac
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 2: Brassac-les-Mines - La Chaise-Dieu
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 3: Monistrol-sur-Loire - La Coteau
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 4: Cours - Belmont-de-la-Loire
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 5: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Salins-les-Bains
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 6: Nantua - Crest-Voland
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie - Col de la Croix de Fer
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble
Tour de Suisse 2023: The Route
Tour de Suisse 2023: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 1: Einsiedeln - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 3: Tafers - Villars-sur-Ollon
Cycling Calendar 2023
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 5: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets