From the 19th to the 23rd of February we have one of the most important Spanish stage-races of the season. This will be the Vuelta a Andalucia, taking place in a warm part of the country, always with a mix of explosive stages that traditionally attract the climbers and classics riders a lot. We take a look at it's profiles.
The race consists of five days of racing, three of them for the climbers and puncheurs whilst two are more guided towards the sprinters - although neither has a proper flat finale. The three hilly days are very mixed, with no real summit finish, which will make for some aggressive racing, the GC can be decided on any day.
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The first stage of the race is a very threatening one. With no race leader, the uphill start will be hard to control and for a day without clear contenders, chaos can quickly settle. There are climbs of different distances and gradientns, but the final half presents three that are difficult. 6.7Km at 7.2% with 62Km to go; 1.9Km at 8.1% with 41Km to go; and 3.3Km at 7.1% with 20Km to go.
Between them all, barely a meter of flat road, it's always uphill or downhill and it's simply very hard to have an organized chase. Even if anything comes together, we will still have an uphill sprint in Cueva de Nerja at 6%.
Stage 2 is an explosive day and another one that is difficult to control. The first two thirds of the stage feature a few climbs that can create some meaningful differences. The ascent to Puerto Vieja will be ridden twice and at it's hardest, it features 4.3 kilometers at 9.4% - which can be used for serious attacks.
However the final one ends with 43 kilometers to go, still with an hour of racing left. Most of it will be flat, but the finale at the Ermita Santa Ana will also be uphill, the final kilometer will average 9% and in this short road there is still the chance to make a difference.
A day that is mostly flat, the profile looks a bit misleading, the ascent early in the day is not very hard and won't be any problem to the sprinters. It's not a pan-flat finale but it won't cause issues to those who struggle with climbing. However, the 3% average in the final kilometer will certainly make it harder, and it won't be all about the final sprint but instead a longer effort.
Another day that is rather suited to the sprinters, with a few small climbs throughout the day that can be used for some attacks or for a breakaway to make it hard for the peloton... But everything points towards a bunch sprint in Alhaurin de la Torre (where again, it will be slightly uphill).
The first half of the final stage is rather brutal, with a very long ascent right at the start of the day and then three other climbs where attacks can happen. A day with a flat finale in La Línea de la Concepción but the overall classification will be the main topic of the day with the start that the riders will have at hand.
🚴♂️🌟 La Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía presenta en diputación de Málaga las etapas que recorrerán la provincia de Málaga pic.twitter.com/6vV5uklLa2
— Vuelta a Andalucía (@VCANDALUCIA) January 29, 2025
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- Dominant win??? 13 seconds over Piddie is not dominant.abstractengineer15-03-2025
- I mean the yellow jersey group of GC guys, like Jorgensen and Almeida.Ride197415-03-2025
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- Also have to see how much marketing and publicity (ie success) both are responsible for, Can’t be the organisers sole responsibility.Mistermaumau15-03-2025
- ? MP is more than just a sprinter. Won a Vuelta stage with 2 such climbs, did a top ten in last years’ TdF Stage 1 and more. GC riders Storer, Martinez and Lipowitz arrived before and he was still beaten by Champoussin on the line, did they make corrections since you looked or you saw what is still showing?Mistermaumau15-03-2025
- So sad, so easy to prevent.Jumpyjohn15-03-2025
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- Another completely useless piece of road furniture strikes again.
santiagobenites15-03-2025 - I wonder if UCI or broadcast's right licensing body actually foot the bill. Or do they act like IOC reaping the rewards and let the hosting country takes the loss?
KerisVroom15-03-2025