A lot of twists and turns along with a number of inclines characterize the route. So pure ITT specialists might find it too challenging. But in terms of the GC battle the 13 kilometres in and around Mijas are a sheer delight.
Two years ago, Mijas hosted the start of stages in both the Vuelta a España and Vuelta a Andalucia, but it has been a while since a race both started and finished in this village on the Costa del Sol. The 1986 Ruta del Sol saw Steven Rooks power to victory in a Mijas-Mijas prologue.
The ITT includes both the hillside village of Mijas Pueblo as the beach areas of Mijas Costa.
The intermediate time check is situated at the highest pont of the route, which is situated at kilometre 5.3. The first part of the route runs virtually all uphill. The first double digit ramps appear after 3.7 kilometres and another hard section begins 800 metres before the top.
The route descends to a couple of kilometres on the flat before. The last uphill kick is 600 metres long. Still 1.7 kilometres remaining at the top, mostly downhill.
Another interesting read: results 5th stage 2020 Ruta del Sol.
Ruta del Sol 2020 stage 5: route, profiles, more
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