No parade stage into Madrid with an ensuing bunch sprint this year.
The time trial is not a first for Padrón and Santiago de Compostela. The Vuelta of 1993 also concluded with a chrono race between the places. Two Swiss riders, Tony Rominger and Alex Zülle, battled it out for the GC and stage win. Zülle won the stage, Rominger the GC, although with a very small margin: 29 seconds.
The first 7 kilometres are played out on rolling roads with gradients topping out at 4%. Then the riders enter another section of 7 kilometres, but this one is only going up – mostly false flat, altough kilometre 12 is steeper: a proper, yet short climb.
The riders drop down to kilometre 23 for another short climb before 4 kilometres on the flat usher in a rolling climb at moderate gradients to the line. The elevation gain in the last 5 kilometres is 120 metres. Not excruciating, but nasty nevertheless.
There are two intermediate time checks between Padrón and Santiago de Compostela: at kilometre 13 and 24.8.
Another interesting read: final GC and results 21st stage 2021 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2021 stage 21: route, profiles, more
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Hannah and Anthony are marvellous commentators, and offer many teachable moments throughout, always with sensitive words! The blend of old cathedrals, castles, homes, parks, beaches, settlements makes for such interesting viewing, and their enthusiasm for it all shines through, with a wonderful Spanish slant! They also know heir sport, inside out! Thankyou.