The riders clip into their pedals in Otura, just south of Granada, to travel west. The first ascent is the gradual Alto de Cerrajón, a climb of 7.9 kilometres long. The route then descends to the Embalse de los Bermejales, brushes past Alhama de Granada, and enters the Alto del Navazo, a 6.4 kilometres long test on rough asphalt.
The riders fly down to the fertile, flat plains that leads to the village of Ventas de Zafarraya and go through the U-shaped Zafarraya Pass to plunge down to Puente Don Manuel. They turn right to tackle the Puerto del Sol, a long drag that’s basically two different climbs. The first 8 kilometres to Periana go up at 6% and after 3 kilometres on the flat the climb zigzags its way up the flanks to the summit at 1,085 metres above sea level. This last section is 7 kilometres long and averages almost 7%.
Still 85 kilometres remaining at the Puerto del Sol. The route then enters a phase that’s mainly on descent, although there are a number of uphill kicks along the way. Some 50 kilometres later the last climb appears. The Alto de los Nuñez – or, Alto de la Venta la Gloria – is a relatively short climb of 4.4 kilometres, but it’s a leg-breaker with double digit ramps in the first part.
The riders descend to enter the last 30 kilometres on the flat. The home straight runs slightly uphill.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 5.
Another interesting read: results 5th stage and final GC 2023 Ruta del Sol.
Ruta del Sol 2023 – stage 5: route, profile, more
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