The race sets off from Vitoria-Gasteiz to travel north until Bergara. Shortly the riders tackle the Deskarga, which is a 6.5 kilometres climb at 5.1%. The first part goes up at shallow gradients, but the last 2.5 kilometres include several double digit ramps.
Around the midway marker the next obstacle appears. The Alkiza is 4.4 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6.2%.
The route remains not too demanding until the Alto de Jaizkibel appears at kilometre 140. The 6.9 kilometres long climb at 6.2% is a fixture at the Clásica de San Sebastián. The first 3 kilometres are steepest before the climb flattens out towards the top.
Almost 10 kilometres after the descend the riders tackle the Erlaitz climb, which also featured in the last edition of the Clásica de San Sebastián (Remco Evenepoel victory). The climb amounts to 7.4 kilometres at 6.4% and riders with ambition should take note of the middle section of 3.8 kilometres at 10.6%.
The riders fly down the Erlaitz to enter a flat final section of 6 kilometres.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while two intermediate sprints – at kilometre 115.3 and 137.3 – come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds. That second sprint is situated inside the last 3.4 kilometres.
Another interesting read: results 4th stage Tour of the Basque Country.
Tour of the Basque Country 2021 stage 4: route, profile, more
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