La Vall d’Uixó is a small town north of Valencia. It’s situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, but the riders will see none of it. The route climbs from the start for 4.4 kilometres at 5%. Following a minor downhill and an undulating section the Puerto de Arenillas looms, which is a similar climb – 5.5 kilometres at 4.7%. There are almost 50 kilometres done at this point.
A 10 kilometres descent plus another undulating section and the riders are at the foot of a climb that will take them to a plateau some 1,000 metres above sea level. The Alto Fuente de Rubielos is 6.2 kilometres long and averages 6%.
The route continues in undulating fashion for 60 kilometres on the plateau until an extended false flat of 13.1 kilometres long leads to the village Torrijas. The route the descends to Arcos de las Salinas, which is the starting point of the ascent to the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre.
The first kilometres of the 11.3 kilometres long climb are relatively easy, but things change after 3.5 kilometres with 1.5 kilometres at more than 10%. Following another easy kilometre road ramps up again, and now for good. The gradients hardly fall below 10% in the last 5 kilometres.
Javalambre Observatory is situated on the Pico del Buitre, a mountain that was first introduced in La Vuelta of 2019. That day, Ángel Madrazo won from the breakaway, while Miguel Ángel López took the red jersey with a powerful late attack.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Vuelta a España 2023 stage 6: profile, more
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