The climbs in the first 100 kilometres are not trying enough to receive a KOM classification. But, obviously, they will add to the fatigue that will drain the legs.
The climbing gets serious when the riders tackle the Alto de Vilachán at kilometre 105. The 6.5 kilometres ascent at 5.4% is followed by Alto de Mabia. A similar test, although a litte steeper: 5.7%.
Hardly any time for a breather. The route descends to the Atlantic coast to continue on the flat for a few kilometres before the hardest climb of the day appears. Leading back into the interior of Galicia, the Alto de Mougás is a 9.8 kilometres ascent at 6.4%.
After the descent and another flat section the Alto de Prado is a 5.5 kilometres climb at 6.3%. It’s the penultimate ascent with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds available at the top. Still 25.3 kilometres to go.
That’s mainly a drop down to the foot of the Alto Castro de Herville, although there are two uphill kicks in between. The finish climb adds up to 9.7 kilometres and the average gradient sits at 4.8%, which is – frankly – a meaningless statistic. Kilometre 4, for instance, climbs at double digits and moments later the route goes down again. And the last few hundred meters rise at almost 10% to the line.
Sure, stage 20 at La Vuelta bears resemblance to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, although a comparison to the Tour of Lombardy is also in order.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 bonificatieseconden. Furthermore, as said, there are 3, 2 and 1 seconds available at Alto de Prado.
Another interesting read: results 20th stage 2021 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2021 stage 20: route, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
