Vuelta 2023 Favourites stage 9: Attackers on irregular finish climb

foto: Cor VosThe riders face an elevation gain of roughly 3,000 metres in stage 9. The final 8.2 kilometres rise at 5.5% to the line, but that number is misleading, as double digit ramps alternate with short downhills. (Slideshow route/profile)

Since the run-up to the finale happens on rolling terrain, we expect the breakaway to be granted so much freedom that the stage winner will be at the front. Only one section is KOM-worthy – the Puerto Casas de Marina la Perdiz, a climb of 11.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 4.9% and its summit 60 kilometres into the race.

Yes, it would be easy to control the breakaway, but why bother? The finish climb is insane, but only for short stretches. It will be hard to create large time gaps.

The GC action is expected to ignite only in the last 2.5 kilometres, when the finish climb ramp up to 17.5% and even 20% for a few hundred metres. But then it levels out again and goes downhill, only to return to climb at 8% just before the flamme rouge. The final 400 metres are, again, double digit material.

Obviously, the battle for the stage win also comes down to this section.

Favourites 9th stage 2023 Vuelta a España

*** Damiano Caruso, Lennard Kämna, Santiago Buitrago
** Romain Bardet, Oier Lazkano, Andreas Kron, Max Poole
* Thomas De Gendt, Bauke Mollema, Rui Costa, Samuele Battistella

Another interesting read: route 9th stage 2023 Vuelta.