The organisers of La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es have revealed one of the toughest routes in its 12-year history with a double-header finale in Asturias that will showcase summit finishes atop Les Praeres. Nava and the famed Alto de l’Angliru.
This year’s race, which will take place from May 3 to May 9, will be held in Galicia. The 815km route will not include a time trial or team time trial, but will take the peloton through the area’s notoriously lush, green terrain and relentless climbing, suitable for opportunists, breakaways and reduced-group finishes in what the organizers have called a ‘balanced’ parcours before reaching the final weekend.
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In an interview with Cyclingnews, Kiko García, the Vuelta’s technical director, stated that pivotal moments of this year’s route were intentionally saved for the final weekend of racing, where the peloton will take on Les Praeres on stage 6 and the fearsome L’Angliru on stage 7 in what will surely decide the winner of this year’s Vuelta Femenina.
Stage 1: Marín to Salvaterra de Miño, 113km
The opening day of racing at La Vuelta Femenina will feature a 113km route from Maín to Salvaterra de Miño.
It is not a completely flat stage, but it will take the peloton over back-to-back mid-race climbs: Alto do Cruceiro at the 38.4km mark and Alto da Portela at the 49.4km mark.
The peloton will then race along an undulating route through Ponteareas and into the punchy uphill finish at Salvaterra de Miño, where the winner will collect the event’s first leader’s jersey.
Stage 2: Lobios to San Cibrao das Viñas, 109km
There are no categorised mountains on tap for stage 2, however, the 109km route profile is anything but flat.
The course is either up or down and likely to be a good opportunity for a breakaway or a reduced group on the roads toward the finish.
It is not a flat finish either, but the peloton will tackle a short, steep ascent in the final kilometres before a short descent into San Cibrao das Viñas.
Stage 3: Padrón to A Coruña, 121km
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