Vuelta 2024 Favourites stage 3: For fast men #2

foto: Cor VosThe course of the 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España looks enticing for sprinters with climbing legs. So, Wout van Aert could very well win all three Portuguese stages of La Vuelta. (Slideshow route/profile)

The route of stage 3 is similar to stage 2. It’s far from flat on the roads between Lousã and Castelo Branco. The riders tackle an elevation gain of roughly 2,700 metres.

On the other hand, the gradients are not alarming, to say the least. And since the Vuelta does attract sprinters with a strongmen skillset, odds are that the race will come down to a sprint finish of a big group. Especially since the final 30 kilometres are flat.

On the other hand, if Visma | Lease a Bike does not want to control the race in favour of Van Aert, who will? In that case, a breakaway rider could go for the win.

Favourites 3rd stage 2024 Vuelta a España

*** Wout van Aert, Kaden Groves
** Bryan Coquard, Pau Miquel, Corbin Strong, Pavel Bittner
* Ide Schelling, Filippo Zana, Sven Erik Bystrøm, Quentin Pacher

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2024 Vuelta.