Leaving departure place Cistierna, the riders are to climb 210 metres in the first 6 kilometres – an average gradient of 3.5%. Not tough enough for a categorisation, but it sure is a good warm-up.
Following the drop the riders race on rolling roads to the foot of the Puerto de San Isidro. At an elevation of 1,520 metres this marks the highest point of today’s stage. To get there riders have to climb 14.7 kilometres at 2.5%.
The next 50 kilometres are in descent, so sprinters who have been dropped can restore the damage. Yet, if they want to battle it out in the intermediate sprint in Langreo after 124.6 kilometres they have to survive Alto de Santo Emiliano (5.4 kilometres at 5.6%) first.
Following the intermediate sprint a 28 kilometres section brings three climbs. The ascent in the middle is uncategorised, while the other two are Alto de San Tirso (3.6 kilometres at 5.2%) and Alto de la Manzaneda (3.5 kilometer at 6.4%). After a short drop the closing clim up the Alto del Naranco appears.
Alto del Naranco is a familiar name in the Vuelta. Located near Oviedo, the climb is featured in the race since 1974. The first victor was José Manuel Fuente Lavandera, who won two stages and the GC in that edition, while Joaquim Rodríguez took the 19th stage in 2013. The next winner will be the fourteenth stage winner at Monte Naranco in the Vuelta.
The climb up the Naranco used to conclude the Subida al Naranco, a famous oneday race in Spain. As of 2011 the ‘Subida’ is history, but now the climb concludes the Vuelta a Asturias. In recent years, that stage race has been won Javier Moreno, Benat Intxausti, Amets Txurruka and Igor Antón.
Alto del Naranco is a 6.6 kilometres climb at 6.1%. The steepest section goes up at 8.9%.
On the slopes of the mountain you’ll find the church of Santa María del Naranco. Dating back to 848, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
The 9th stage of the Vuelta a España starts at 13:27 and the finish is expected around 17:40, both local times. At the finish wait 10, 6 and 4 seconds for the first three riders, and 3, 2 and 1 seconds can be gained at the intermediate sprint after 124,6 kilometres.
Results / race report 9th stage, 2016 Vuelta a Espãna.
Vuelta a España 2016 Stage 9: Route maps, height profiles, etc
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