Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 17: Climb fest on steep Los Machucos

Following a peak with 73.2 kilometres remaining and a climb that’s crested with 17.9 kilometres left, the Alto de los Machucos is the absolute eye-catcher of the day. No doubt this monster is going to decide on the winner. The steepest ramps are 26%, while the climb is averaging 8.7%.

The earlier climbs in the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España are the Portillo de Lunada (8.3 kilometres at 5.8%) and Puerto de Alisas (10 kilometres at 6%). For sure, the Alisas is no picnic, but at least it’s a regular climb, while Los Machucos is quite the opposite. The ascent totals 7.3 kilometres and the gradients go nuts once you hit the first slope. A section at 17.5% is followed by a 10% drop before the riders face ramps of 26%. Another short drops runs up to a 25% slope. And on you go, although the gradients mellow out a but between kilometre 3 and kilometre 6. That is, they are less extreme as the average gradient in this section is 13.4%. The last kilometre is a drop before the last stretch is a false flat to the line.

What’s it going to be, escapees or GC contenders? With a hilly section of approximately 100 kilometres running to the doable Portillo de Lunada it’s likely that we’ll see a front group entering the grueling finale with a considerable advantage. If there are strong climbers on board, it could be up that they survive the Puerto de Alisas and Alto de los Machucos and celebrate a grand victory on the summit of the monster mountain.

Favourites 17th stage 2017 Vuelta

*** Thomas De Gendt, Rafal Majka, Miguel Ángel López, Alberto Contador
** Esteban Chaves, Chris Froome, Jan Polanc, Sander Armée, Michael Woods
* Adam Yates, Wilco Kelderman, Romain Bardet, Simon Yates

Vuelta 2017 stage 17: Route maps, height profiles, and more

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All stages

Schema and map

Route and profile 17th stage

Profile 17th stage

Details start 17th stage

Details Puerto de Alisas

Details Los Machucos

Details finish 17th stage

Scheduled times 17th stage

Route 17th stage

Route and profile final 34 km

Villadiego and Los Machucos at Google Maps

Streetview Los Machucos