Three Vuelta’s ago we also saw a Pamplona-Lekunberri stage, and it took place on a very unusual date – Wednesday 21 October. It was the Vuelta that was plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic. No crowds were lining the roads. Both Pamplona and Lekunberri now get a second chance, although the route is totally different.
Back then, Marc Soler attacked in the descent of the last climb, the Alto San Miguel de Aralar. He held off nine chasers to solo to victory before Primoz Roglic sprinted to second place, 19 seconds later.
The climb to the Sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar was brutal – 9.4 kilometres at 7.9% on bumpy tarmac – and the Puerto de Zuarrarrate is something else entirely. The average gradient of the 7.3 kilometres long climb sits at 4.8%. It’s part of a finishing circuit of some 30 kilometres long.
After cresting the Puerto de Zuarrarrate for the second time the riders descend with breakneck speeds to the finish line in Lekunberri.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint – atop the Zuarrarrate for the second time – comes with 6, 4 and 2 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX 15th stage 2023 Vuelta.
Another interesting read: results 15th stage 2023 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2023 stage 15: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites stage 15: Attackers with descending skills - Vuelta 2023 The Route - Vuelta 2023 Riders - Vuelta 2023 Withdrawals - Vuelta 2023 Route and stages - Vuelta 2023 Welcome to Cycling Paradise Andorra GC Favourites - Vuelta 2023 More articles Tour de Romandie 2024: Zijlaard wins prologue to take leader's jersey
Tour de Romandie 2024 Prologue: Starting times
Tour de Romandie 2024: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2024: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route prologue: Payerne
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 1: Château d’Oex – Fribourg
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 2: Fribourg – Les Marécottes
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 3: Oron ITT
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 4: Saillon - Leysin
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 5: Vernier - Vernier
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 1: Hilly race for pink
Giro 2024 Route stage 2: San Fransesco al Campo - Oropa
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 2: The King of Oropa
Giro 2024 Route stage 3: Novara - Fossano
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 3: For fast finishers #1
Giro 2024 Route stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora
Giro 2024 Route stage 5: Genoa - Lucca
Giro 2024 Route stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme
Giro 2024 Route stage 8: Spoleto - Prati di Tivo
Giro 2024 Route stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Livigno
Giro 2024 Route stage 16: Livigno - Monte Pana
Giro 2024 Route stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena – Passo Brocon
Giro 2024 Route stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada
Giro 2024 Route stage 20: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa
Cycling Calendar 2024
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes 2024: Brown wins six-up sprint
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Vuelta 2024: The Route