After two stages on French soil, stage 3 of the Vuelta passes through Spain to finish in Andorra. Once the flag is dropped the riders hit the first uphill section, which runs to the summit of Col de la Perche, crested at kilometre 34.8. A long descent plunges down into Spain and in La Seu d’Urgell, after approximately 100 kilometres, the climb to Andorra commences.
Firstly Coll de la Rabassa, a 13.2 kilometres ascent at 6.9%. Back in the valley, and moments before entering arrival place Andorra la Vella, the route turns right to climb up the Alto de la Comella. This is an uphill detour of 4.3 kilometres at 8.3% with a steepest ramp of 12% some 800 metres before the summit, making it a perfect spot to strike and be the first rider to plunge down. The descent into Andorra la Vella is almost 7 kilometres.
With three climbs – two of which in the last 50 kilometres -, the 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España is right up the alley of climbers with descending skills.
Favourites 3rd stage 2017 Vuelta
*** Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome, Romain Bardet, Adam Yates
** Simon Yates, Alberto Contador, Bob Jungels, Jarlinson Pantano
* Wout Poels, Fabio Aru, Wilco Kelderman, Matej Mohoric
Vuelta 2017 stage 3: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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