2023 Vuelta a España Stage 6 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 6 of the 2023 Vuelta a España! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
The 6th stage of La Vuelta is a 183.1 kilometres long race into the remote province Teruel. The summit finish near the Javalambre Observatory is even more remote. The altitude gain sums up to almost 4,000 metres, while the finish climb serves mostly double digits in the last 5 kilometres.
La Vall d’Uixó is a small town north of Valencia. It’s situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, but the riders will see none of it, as they go in the opposite direction. The route climbs from the start on a 4.4 kilometres climb at 5%. Following a minor downhill and an undulating section the Puerto de Arenillas looms, which is a similar climb – 5.8 kilometres at 4.7%. There are almost 50 kilometres done at this point.
A 10 kilometres descent plus another undulating section and the riders are at the foot of a climb that will take them to a plateau some 1,000 metres above sea level. The Alto Fuente de Rubielos is 6.1 kilometres long and averaging 6.2%.
The route continues in an undulating fashion for 60 kilometres on the plateau until an extended false flat of 13.1 kilometres long leads to the village Torrijas. The route then descends to Arcos de las Salinas, which is the starting point of the ascent to the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre.
The first kilometres of the 10.9 kilometres long climb are relatively easy, but things change after 3 kilometres with 3 kilometres at 8% and sections up to 16%. Following another easy kilometre the road ramps up again, and now for good. The gradients hardly fall below 10% in the last 5 kilometres. The Javalambre Observatory climb is 10.9 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 8%
Javalambre Observatory is situated on the Pico del Buitre, a mountain that was first introduced in La Vuelta in 2019. That day, Ángel Madrazo won from the breakaway, while Miguel Ángel López took the red jersey with a powerful late attack.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
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