Vuelta 2025 Favourites stage 4: Breakaway day

foto: Cor VosThe riders tackle nearly 3,300 metres of elevation gain on the fourth day of La Vuelta. Most climbing is packed into the first 70 kilometres, so there's every chance we’ll see a spectacular start to the day. The stage winner, and perhaps even the new red jersey, could very well emerge from the breakaway. (Slideshow route/profile)

It’s safe to say that the road runs uphill for the first 37.8 kilometres straight. The opening stretch isn’t an official climb, and then the Puerto Exilles throws in 5.6 kilometres at 5.6%. After a negligible descent, the road continues uphill with false flat gradients, and occasionally somewhat steeper, towards the foot of the Col de Montgenèvre. The riders reach kilometre 37.8 after a 8.3-kilometre ascent at 6.1%.

They then descend into Briançon, and after 14 kilometres of false flat, the Col du Lautaret begins. That’s the final major climb of the day — 13.8 kilometres at 4.3% — and from its summit, the riders fly downhill into the second part of the stage. Aside from one short uphill kicker – 2.3 kilometres at 6.3% – just before Grenoble, the rest of the route is flat, until the home straight runs uphill with a 4% gradient.

That punchy ramp before Grenoble is, obviously, a prime spot for breakaway riders to try and shake off their rivals. From the top, it’s roughly 45 kilometres to the finish.

Favourites 4th stage 2025 Vuelta a España

*** Andrea Bagioli, Filippo Ganna, Finn Fisher-Black, Eddie Dunbar
** Maximilian Schachmann, Magnus Sheffield, Marc Soler, Wout Poels, Carlos Verona
* Michał Kwiatkowski, Koen Bouwman, Jesús Herrada, Marco Frigo, Javier Romo, Simon Carr

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2025 Vuelta.