Friday 28 August – Vuelta a España stage 7: Vall d'Alba → Aramón Valdelinares (149.8 km)

Route

Stage 7 of the Vuelta a España takes the peloton from Vall d'Alba, on the Costa del Azahar, to the mountain finish in Aramón Valdelinares at 1,963 metres altitude. The stage measures 149.8 kilometres and features around 3,685 metres of climbing. After a calm opening, the second half of the stage becomes almost continuously uphill.

After a flat to rolling opening section, the peloton climbs the Puerto de Remolcador (12.4 km at 4.3%), followed by the descent and the Alto de Zucaina (5.5 km at 5%). With around 50 kilometres to go, the Alto Fuente de Rubielos begins (6 km at 6.3%). From that point on, the road climbs almost uninterrupted, save for a few flat sections and short descents.

With 20 kilometres to go comes the Puerto de San Rafael (11.1 km at 4.3%), with the first 3.4 kilometres at 6.6% and the final 1.7 kilometres at 7%. After a short descent, the final climb to Valdelinares begins (9.8 km at 5.9%), with peaks of up to 13% and a flattening section towards the top.

Final kilometres

The final 50 kilometres of this stage are almost entirely uphill. After the Puerto de San Rafael, with 20 kilometres to go, a short descent follows to the foot of the final climb. That last climb to Valdelinares measures 9.8 kilometres at 5.9%, with stretches of up to 13% in the first part and a flattening finish to the line at 1,963 metres altitude. Time bonuses are on offer along the way: 6, 4 and 2 seconds at the foot of the San Rafael, and 10, 6 and 4 seconds at the finish.

Recent editions

The Vuelta has finished in Valdelinares twice before. 2014 – Winner Anacona (Lampre-Merida), solo, while Nairo Quintana (Movistar) took over the leader's jersey that same day. 2005 – Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros), on his way to his fourth overall Vuelta win.

Scenarios

A long climbing finale with the last categorised climb 20 kilometres from the finish opens the door to several outcomes. Early breakaway riders could hold on with a gap if the GC teams keep each other in check. If the favourites take control, it becomes a day for the GC contenders and the grand tour climbers.

Local

Valdelinares, in the province of Teruel, lies in the Sierra de Gúdar. The Aramón Valdelinares ski resort is one of the highest-altitude winter sports areas in Spain. Vall d'Alba lies in the province of Castellón, near the Costa del Azahar. In the previous finishes in Valdelinares, the stage winners were not local: Roberto Heras (2005) is from Castile and León, Winner Anacona (2014) from Colombia.

Weather forecast

Expected in Valdelinares on Friday: mostly sunny with a maximum of 21.2°C and a minimum of 9.9°C. It will stay dry. In the finale, a west-southwesterly wind of up to 14.8 km/h is expected, not a significant factor on the final climb.

TV guide

• Eurosport 1 — 13:30
• HBO Max — 13:30
• VRT1 — 13:30
• Sporza online — 13:30