La Vuelta 2024:- Stage 20: Villarcayo – Picón Blanco, 172km ***Spoilers***

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.