[Underneath article was written before the start of the Vuelta a Burgos and has not been updated]
The majority of the finales in the Vuelta a Burgos are not demanding enough to open up large time gaps in the GC, but on the third and fifth day of action they are. Of these two stage 3 is the hardest race. Following four intermediate climbs the riders finish atop Picón Blanco. The haul up is 7.8 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 9.3%. The last 3 kilometres are even harder with, top-down, gradients of 9.2%, 8.9% and 11%.
In the last three editions of the Vuelta a Burgos Mikel Landa, ‘Superman’ López and Iván Sosa triumphed atop Picón Blanco.
The final stage is in itself less demanding than the ride to Picón Blanco, but the finish climb is something else. After a day on undulating terrain the last 11.8 kilometres ascend to the Lakes of Neila. The average gradient of 5.6% is nothing special, but the route gets so demanding in the ultimate 3 kilometres that it could very well shake up the GC. Following two kilometres at 8.9% the last 1,000 metres rise at 11%.
The Lagunas de Neila climb has served as finish climb in the Vuelta a Burgos for years. Eventual winner Iván Sosa won the last two races to the glacial lakes, thus succeeding Superman López (2017), Sergio Pardilla (2016), Dani Moreno (2015), Nairo Quintana (2014, 2013), Esteban Chaves (2012) and Mikel Landa (2011).
Favourites 2020 Vuelta a Burgos
***** Mikel Landa, Simon Yates
**** Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Iván Sosa
*** Esteban Chaves, Alejandro Valverde
** Marc Soler, Rafal Majka, Remco Evenepoel
* George Bennett, Pello Bilbao, David Gaudu