Vuelta 2023 Favourites stage 15: Attackers with descending skills

foto: Cor VosThe 15th stage of La Vuelta looks enticing for hilly specialists. The route includes an elevation gain of 2,500 metres in 158.3 kilometres. The finale is a descent down the Puerto de Zuarrarrate - 7.3 kilometres at 4.8% - to the line in Lekunberri. (Slideshow route/profile)

Oldhands Thomas De Gendt and Bauke Mollema will be eyeing up this stage, as are young guns Filippo Zana and Lennert Van Eetvelt. The route is far from flat, but the climbs are doable. In short, the terrain for hilly specialists with a knack for adventure.

The route includes dozens of small uphills and three KOM-worthy climbs. The Puerto de Lizarragga – 19.3 kilometres at 2.7%, flat middle section – is crested halfway through the race, but it comes down to the finishing circuit with a double ascent of the Puerto de Zuarrarrate. This is a 7.3 kilometres climb at 4.8%. The last 1.3 kilometres level off to 3% before the finale is a 8.5 kilometres descent into Lekenberri.

The route is too hard for sprinters and not hard enough for a GC battle. So, the breakaway is likely to succeed.

Favourites 15th stage 2023 Vuelta a España

*** Remco Evenepoel, Andreas Kron, Lennard Kämna, Lennert Van Eetvelt
** Romain Bardet, Thomas De Gendt, Mattia Cattaneo, Jan Hirt
* Bauke Mollema, Damiano Caruso, Oier Lazkano, Jonathan Caicedo, Finn Fisher-Black

Another interesting read: route 15th stage 2023 Vuelta.