Aracena is your typical Andalusian village with its special attraction hidden underground. La Gruta de la Maravillas – or, Cave of Wonders – is a subterranean complex that stretches for around 2,130 metres. The network of limestone caverns is a natural underground monument with subterranean lakes, stalactites, stalagmites, and dripstone curtains. The temperatures in the cave is always 16°Celsius to 19°Celsius, with around 98% humidity.
Once on the road the riders will yearn for a cool cave, as this part of Spain is notorious for being extremely hot in summer. The route is ‘Spanish flat’, which means that it goes up and down all day without any real climbing.
That is, until the finale. The Montasterio de Tentudía is a hilltop monastery. The road starts to climb at kilometre 152. The first 3 kilometres rise at almost 7% before it levels out and even descends for a bit. The dash for the top is a 4.1 kilometres dig at 7.4%. Taken from base to finish, the ascent to the monastery is 10.3 kilometres long and averages 5%.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 17 Vuelta.
The 17th stage of La Vuelta starts at 13:05 and the race is expected to finish around 17:30 – both are local times (CEST).
Another interesting read: results 17th stage 2022 Vuelta.
Vuelta a España 2022 stage 17: route, profile, more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites stage 17: Breakaway day - Vuelta 20 The Route - Vuelta 20 Riders - Vuelta 20 Route and stages - Vuelta 20 GC Favourites - Vuelta 20 More articles Vuelta 2025: The Route
Vuelta 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 1: Turin – Novara
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 2: Alba - Limone Piemonte
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Giro 2025: Riders
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour Down Under 2025: The Route