Vuelta 2024 Route stage 20: Villarcayo

Vuelta 2024 Route stage 20: Villarcayo - Picón Blanco

Saturday 7 September - The riders face an atitude gain of over 4,000 metres on the penultimate day of action. Stage 20 of La Vuelta leads from Villarcayo to the summit of the Picón Blanco. The route takes in six intermediate climbs before the last ascent throws in 7.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.3%.

Climbers with no ITT skills should come to the fore, as the stage to the Picón Blanco is the last race in line. The route goes up and down from the start, although the first KOM climb – Las Estacas de Truebal – is crested relatively late, after 35 kilometres. A long descent precedes the Puerto de la Braguía, and on it goes to the Alto del Caracol, Portillo de Lunada (14 kilometres at 6.1%, 1st category), Portillo de la Sia, and Puerto de Los Tomos (13.2 kilometres at 5.5%, 1st category).

Following 15 kilometres section – first half half false flat down, second half virtually flat – the riders move through Espinosa de los Monteros, a village at an elevation of 762 metres. This is the base of the Picón Blanco. The finish climb leads to an abandoned military base at 1,468 metres. The average gradient of 9.3% is biased, as the 7.6 kilometres ascent begins relatively easy before it shows its teeth with double digits material for kilometres on a stretch.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint comes with 6, 4 and 4 seconds.