La Vuelta last visited Motril in 2017. It was also for a stage start. The race went to Antequera and Tomasz Marczynski won from the breakaway.
While half of the route followed the coast line, the riders head now for the Sierra Nevada without dawdling, although it still takes more than 80 kilometres before the uphill fireworks ignite. The riders move through Vélez de Benaudalla, Lanjarón, Dúrcal, Padul, Alhendín, Armilla and Granada before looping back to Monachil, at the base of the Alto del Purche. The Purche is a 9.1 kilometres long climb with an average gradient of 7.6%, while the first 3 kilometres are especially hard. Also, the last 200 metres go up at 11%.
A downhill takes the riders to Pinos Genil and they follow a winding road at shallow gradients high above a Bianchi-green reservoir. After moving through Güéjar Sierra a steep drop leads to the source of the reservoir, River Genil. The climb back out of the narrow valley is called the Alto de Hazallanas, which is a 7.3 kilometres toil at 9.8%.
The riders fly down the Hazallanas to return to Pinos Genil and do it again. So back up to Güéjar Sierra and then the brutal ramps of the Alto de Hazallanas.
The race concludes with a 23 kilometres downhill into Granada’s city centre.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint – after the second Hazallanas ascent – comes with 6, 4 and 2 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX 9th stage 2024 Vuelta.
Another interesting read: results 9th stage 2024 Vuelta a España.
Vuelta a España 2024 stage 9: routes, profiles, more
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