2024 Vuelta a España Stage 20 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 20 of the 2024 Vuelta a España! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
On the penultimate day of action, the riders face an altitude gain of over 4,000 metres. Stage 20 of La Vuelta leads from Villarcayo to the summit of the Picón Blanco. The route includes six intermediate climbs before the last ascent, which is 7.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.3%.
Climbers with no ITT skills should come to the fore, as the stage to the Picón Blanco is the last race in line. The route goes up and down from the start, although the first KOM climb – Las Estacas de Truebal – is crested relatively late, after 35 kilometres. A long descent precedes the Puerto de la Braguía, and on it goes to the Alto del Caracol, Portillo de Lunada (14 kilometres at 6.1%, 1st category), Portillo de la Sia, and Puerto de Los Tornos (13.2 kilometres at 5.5%, 1st category).
Following 15 kilometres section – first half half false flat down, second half virtually flat – the riders move through Espinosa de los Monteros, a village at an elevation of 762 metres. This is the base of the Picón Blanco. The finish climb leads to an abandoned military base at 1,468 metres. The average gradient of 9.3% is biased, as the 7.6 kilometers ascent begins relatively easily before it shows its teeth with double digits material for kilometers on a stretch.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint comes with 6, 4 and 2 seconds.
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