Vuelta 2022 Route stage 14: Montoro

Vuelta 2022 Route stage 14: Montoro - Sierra de la Pandera

Saturdag 3 September - Stage 14 at La Vuelta takes the riders from Montoro to the Sierra de la Pandera. The first half of the 160.3 kilometres long race is predominantly flat, while the second half is mountainous and reaches its zenit on a 32 kilometres climb to the line.

Montoro lies just outside Cordoba. On 14 August 2021 the mercury tipped 47.4 degrees Celsius. With this, the Guadalquivir valley lived up to its nickname ‘pan of Spain’ as it was a historic record for the hottest temperature in the country.

Let’s hope the riders will be spared a new heat record. After leaving they follow the Guadalquivir valley for quite while. After Mengibar – also famed for its temperatures, with a record standing at 47.1 degrees Celsius – the route turns south.

Shortly before Jaén the riders change direction and head for Mancha Real, gradually gaining height in doing so. The first peak is reached at kilometre 110 before a descent leads onto a hilly phase. First a 1.6 kilometres climb at 6.9% and then a 4 kilometres at 4.7%.

One could argue that the finish climb begins after 138 kilmetres, so with 32.8 kilometres remaining. The first part climbs 10.1 kilometres at 5.5% and after a section on the flat the last 8.5 kilometres rise at 7.6% to the line. The last kilometre begins with a descent before the road kicks up again.

It’s the sixth Vuelta finish at the Sierra de la Pandera. Roberto Heras took the spoils in 2002 before he was succeeded by Alejandro Valverde (2003), Andrey Kashechkin (2006), Damiano Cunego (2009), and Rafal Majka (2017).

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 14 Vuelta.