Vuelta 2020 Favourites stage 15: For the breakaway

The 15th stage includes five categorised climbs and a lot of unlabeled uphill stretches. Too hard for sprinters, not hard enough for GC riders. A successful breakaway is the most likely scenario. (Slideshow route/profile)

Expect a huge battle for the breakaway. The first 50 kilometres are virtually flat, so all kinds of riders can give it a shot, before La Vuelta enters the hills. The route goes either up or down for the rest of the day until the riders reach the highest points atop the Alto de Padornelo.

After cresting the Padornelo at 1,310 metres the riders fly down a descent of 8 kilometres before the last 11 kilometres of the race are played out on the flat.

On paper one could argue that fast descenders will have an advantage in the Alto de Padornelo downhill. Yet, the descent is not at all technical. On a wide road the riders approach Requejo to enter the flat finale.

Favourites 15th stage 2020 Vuelta a España

*** Tim Wellens, Rui Costa, Sepp Kuss, Michael Woods
** Gorka Izagirre, Davide Formolo, Marc Soler, Ion Izagirre
* Mikel Nieve, Omar Fraile, Ivo Oliveira, Mattia Cattaneo

Another interesting read: route 15th stage of the 2020 Vuelta.