Vuelta 2025 Route stage 9: Alfaro – Valdezcaray

There’s a first time for everything: Alfaro never hosted La Vuelta before. It has, however, seen the finish of a stage in the local Rioja Tour once – in 1992, when Melchor Mauri claimed victory.

The stage itself holds few surprises. It’s ‘Spanish flat’, meaning the route rolls up and down without any mountains of real significance. But that doesn’t make its easy. Far from it. Although mountain points are only on offer at the finish, the stage still racks up a significant amount of elevation gain: well over 3,300 metres.

The finish climb to the Valdezcaray ski resort begins just after Ezcaray. It adds up to 13.2 kilometres, while the average gradient sits at 5%. The first half of the Valdezcaray ascent is the steepest.

It’s the seventh time that Valdezcaray hosts a Vuelta stage finish. Previous winners include Simon Clarke (2012), Tony Rominger (1994), Fabio Parra (1991), Jean-François Bernard (1990), Pedro Delgado (1989), and Sean Kelly (1988). In the years 1989–1991, the mountain was part of a short individual time trial.

The first three riders across the line gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds, while the intermediate sprint carries 6, 4 and 2 seconds.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 9th stage 2025 Vuelta a España.

Another interesting read: results 9th stage 2025 Vuelta a España.

Vuelta a España 2025 stage 9: routes, profiles, videos

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Valdezcaray climb

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