Return of the Picón Blanco climb expected for 2024 Vuelta a Espana

The route and profiles of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana will be revealed on Tuesday, December 19th. Although that's still more than a week away, rumours are slowly dripping their way out. The latest of which hints to the return of the Picón Blanco climb.

Eight kilometres long and with average gradients of 9.3%, plus a brutal final few kilometres that really ramp up to the line, the Picón Blanco is a challenging ride and could see potential differences amongst the general classification riders on the day.

According to a newspaper in Burgos, the 2024 Vuelta a Espana will travel to the region in either the second or third week of racing for a brutally mountainous day that will feature more than 4,000 meters of altitude, departing from Villarcayo with a summit finish on the Picón Blanco.

The last time the climb was featured at the Vuelta a Espana was back in 2021. On that day, the stage winner was Rein Taaramäe. The Estonian triumphed from the breakaway on what was only stage 3 of that year's edition of the Spanish Grand Tour.