Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 7: Chance for late attackers

foto: Cor VosThe 7th stage of the Vuelta a España runs on a rolling and sometimes hilly route to the beautiful walled city Cuenca. The last climb into the old town is paved with cobbles before a 9 kilometres descent leads to the line. Perfect decor for a late attack to bear fruit. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 7th stage of the Vuelta a España travels in more than 200 kilometres from Llíria to Cuenca. The race is played out on rolling to hilly terrain. The route takes in three KOM climbs with the last one likely to become a crucial factor.

The route is perfect for an early break, yet one may wonder if it will stick till the end as a lot of riders in the peloton will be eyeing up the stage win. The finale begins with the first passage in Cuenca before a 2 kilometres climb at 7.3% runs to the old town. A 3.4 kilometres false flat leads to an 8.4 kilometres descent back into Cuenca. The average gradient of 7.3% is misleading though, as the first half of the climb is a lot steeper than that. Moreover it runs on narrow and cobbled streets. You have to be well placed at the foot and be able to hold off possible chasers in the run-in to the line.

Favourites 7th stage 2017 Vuelta

*** Bob Jungels, Luis León Sánchez, Rui Costa, Rohan Dennis, Julian Alaphilippe
** Domenico Pozzovivo, Adam Yates, Simon Yates, Juan José Lobato
* Damiano Caruso, Esteban Chaves, Wout Poels, Alexis Gougeard, Gianni Moscon