La Vuelta 2024:- Stage 17: Monumento Juan de Castillo Arnuero – Santander, 141.5km ***Spoilers***

Stage 17: Monumento Juan de Castillo Arnuero – Santander

Wednesday 4th September.

Start Time: 13:10BST.

This is the final clear opportunity for the sprinters in this edition of La Vuelta. However, there’s a real test halfway through the stage. The remainder of the 141.5 kilometres long race is predominantly flat again. It’s just 40 kilometres from Arnuero to Santander, but the peloton adds roughly 100 kilometres to it by taking a detour in southerly direction. This is also where the climbs are. Santander hosted 35 stage finishes at La Vuelta, although the last one dates back to 2003. Alessandro Petacchi took the win that day, outsprinting Erik Zabel and Tom Boonen.

Profile.

Map.

The Climbs.

Final Kilometres.

What to Expect.

The strongmen sprinters in the race should be able to survive these challenges, if not, it’s going to be a day for the breakaway specialists.

Arnuero

Arnuero makes its debut hosting a La Vuelta stage departure.

2,170 inhabitants.

Arnuero is a municipality in the province and autonomous community of Cantabria, northern Spain. The municipality is located in the northeastern portion of the province, and includes three small villages: Arnuero, Soano and Isla. Isla has two seaside districts, popular tourism destinations, Quejo and Playa la Arena.

The stage departure from Arnuero, in Cantabria, provides a link to the Grand Departure of La Vuelta 24. Juan del Castillo, an architect native to this region, lived out a large part of his architectural career in Portugal. He boasts five creations that have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites – among them is the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, which will bear witness to La Vuelta 24’s Grand Departure.

Rabas

Rabas or fried squid is the quintessential seafood tapa of the Cantabrian coast. Made with sliced squid strips or rings that are lightly battered or breaded before they are fried to crispy perfection, this dish is best savored when lightly seasoned with salt and with an optional drizzle of fresh lemon juice.

Santander

Santander has already hosted 35 La Vuelta finish-lines.

171,693 inhabitants.

Santander is the capital city of the Cantabria region on Spain’s north coast. The Palacio de la Magdalena, once the royal summer residence, lies at the mouth of the Bay of Santander on the rocky La Magdalena Peninsula. West, the city center is home to the Catedral de Santander, with its octagonal cupola and Gothic cloister. Nearby, the Paseo de Pereda promenade runs along one side of the Jardines de Pereda gardens.

The Magdalena Palace, one of its architectural icons, stands above the Santander skyline with views over the Cantabrian Sea. It will witness the peloton’s arrival in Santander during a stage held entirely within Cantabria.

Sobao pasiego

Sobao pasiego, a popular sponge cake from Cantabria, is made from yeasted dough that is typically flavored with lemon zest and either anise liquor or rum. Originally, the cake was made from leftover bread dough, but near the end of the 19th century, it has been modified into its present-day form.