La Vuelta 2024:- Stage 20: Villarcayo – Picón Blanco, 172km ***Spoilers***
![blazing_saddles](https://forum.bikeradar.com/uploads/userpics/8KMUD9ODW55W/n05GBSS54188Z.jpg)
Stage 20: Villarcayo – Picón Blanco, 172km
Saturday 7th September.
Start Time: 12-00BST.
Stage 20 of La Vuelta leads from Villarcayo to the summit of the Picón Blanco. The route takes in six intermediate climbs before the last ascent throws in 7.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.3%. Following the climb of the Estacas de Trueba Mountain Pass, the race will enter Cantabrian territory and overcome many climbs before returning to the Province of Burgos through the Portillo de Lunada. The route goes up and down from the start, although the first KOM climb – Las Estacas de Truebal – is crested relatively late, after 35 kilometres. The finish climb leads to an abandoned military base at 1,468 metres. The riders face an altitude gain of over 5,000 metres on the penultimate day of action.
Profile.
Map.
The Climbs.
Final Kilometres.
What to Expect.
By this stage in the race, the riders will be exhausted and looking forward to Madrid. So, those GC riders with reserves still left, to fight out for victory, the rest to capitulate soon, rather than later.
Villarcayo
Villarcayo makes its debut hosting a La Vuelta stage departure.
3,942 inhabitants.
In the heart of the Las Merindades region, on the banks of the Nela River, stands the beautiful Burgos town of Villarcayo. Historical regional capital, its strategic location has helped it become an important hub of communication and trade between the plateau and the Cantabrian Mountains. Villarcayo will make its debut as a La Vuelta host in 2024. This Burgos locality, however, has ample cycling experience. During the past decade, it has been a regular part of La Vuelta a Burgos, both in the male and female editions of the race. In the last occasion, in 2023, the three-time champion of La Vuelta, Primoz Roglic, emerged victorious following the climb up the Picón Blanco and crossing the finish-line in the streets of Villarcayo in first place.
Leche frita
Leche frita is a delicious Spanish dessert consisting of a sweet, firm milk-pudding encased in a crunchy fried shell of eggs and flour. It is made with flour, cornstarch, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, and olive oil. The whole concoction is flavored with cinnamon. Leche frita, meaning fried milk, can be served cold, at room temperature, or hot, ideally with a scoop of ice cream on the side.
Picón Blanco
Picón Blanco has already hosted a La Vuelta finish-line once before.
1,642 inhabitants
The climb of the Picón Blanco, which already hosted a finish-line in La Vuelta 21, will be the final great challenge for the men in the running to win the general classification and for the climbers who wish to fight for a stage victory before the final stage in Madrid. Just before the final time trial, the more than 7 km climb with an average inclination of over 9% will determine who follows in the footsteps of Primož Roglič, emerging as the champion of this Burgos summit.
Torreznos
Torreznos are traditional Spanish tapas consisting of pork belly that's marinated, dried, cut into strips, then fried in olive oil.
Comments
-
Unfortunately, I will be travelling home while this stage is shown live in it’s entirety. Should be a belter and no doubt make Sundays ITT a formality.
You can guess what I will be doing on Sunday….
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Ineos pressure is shelling out bora riders ... Mas has riders up the road . 100k to go
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Fascinating day - hope someone decides to risk it all, maybe on the next climb.
0 -
Second to last climb I think for mas .... Landa no idea seems highly unrealistic to me
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Am enjoying the commentators still trying to find logic in anything Soler does.
1 -
How much climbing is in this stage ?
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
5000 + according to Bs
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
On a car journey so haven’t been watching. Why are Ineos applying pressure? Are they looking to get C Rod into 7th on the Stage instead of 8th? Taking the white jersey seriously?
0 -
The peloton is closing 2 mins 54k
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Trex explode the race
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
White jersey I think
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Roglic hanging onto a small group ..hard to judge how he is going
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
C rod not panning out
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Sivakov and Dunbar go for the stage
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
This is what I was worried about for Skjelmose this stage. He's been great at pacing back instead of cracking, but on a longer range attack there's that chance of missing the selection.
Lipowitz ahead of him, but Rodriguez dropped. He needs to be back in the front group
Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
He made it
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm1 -
Landa looking a bit done ... everyone is pretty much done with racing on this climb ...
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Last climb approaches ...Roglic does not look like cracking to me
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Connor has a better tt than carapaz ...if he can keep.carapaz close podium should be on
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Was it really worth Ineos's effort to keep Rodriguez?
"Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0 -
Given he's looking to drop out of the top ten, it seems to have been a miscalculation. Had to try something I suppose.
0 -
Carapaz has to attack
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
No
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Mas lets O'connor get back
0 -
Ben o Connor and gall riding well enough
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
For now
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Mas
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Carapaz desperation to hang on to Roglic and mas
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Roglic going to win this today, isn't he?
0 -
What a exposed road vista
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0