2021 Vuelta a España Stage 9 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 9 of the 2021 Vuelta a España! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
The 9th stage on La Vuelta takes in three intermediate ascents before the final haul up on the Alto de Velefique. The route adds up to 188 kilometres, while the finish climb is 13.2 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.3%. The elevation gain adds up to almost 4,500 metres.
The first part of the race is not very remarkable. On rolling roads the riders travel in southwesterly direction until the first proper obstacle appears. The long Alto de Cuatro Vientos marks the start of the mountainous second part of the race.
The climb – 11.5 kilometres at 3.8% – is crested at kilometre 74.5. The real descent begins 5 kilometres later and continues onto a extended false flat. Then the riders enter the Alto Collado Venta Luisa, which is a climb of 29 kilometres long with an average gradient of 4.6%. The hardest part begins after 16 kilometres when the Venta Luisa climbs at double digits gradients for 4 kilometres.
Shortly after the downhill the Alto de Castro de Fiabres appears. This is a relatively easy test of 7.1 kilometres at 3.9%.
The route saves the best for last. The Alto de Velefique climb opens with 5 kilometres at 9% before the gradient levels out to roughly 6%. The ascent adds up to 13.4 kilometres, while the average gradient from base to top sits at 7.3%.
Situated at the base of the finish climb, Velefique is a former mining town in the Sierra de Filabres. In 2009, the summit with the same name was the end station of a stage with over 6,000 metres of vertical climbing. The now retired Ryder Hesjedal powered to the win.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds. Furthermore, 8, 5 and 2 seconds are available at the top of the Alto de Castro de Fiabres.
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