August 23, 2022
Full preview of another up and down day in the Basque Country at the 2022 Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España 2022, stage five
Distance: 187.2 kilometres
Start location: Irun
Finish location: Bilbao
Start time: 11.45 BST
Finish time (approx): 16.30 BST
The second of three stages in the Basque Country, the Vuelta a España stage five is also the second consecutive medium mountain stage, with plenty more of the undulating terrain that is characteristic of the Basque Country on the menu.
The day begins in the city of Irun, which sits on the North-East border with France. The 2020 Vuelta began here after Utrecht’s original bid to host was delayed due to Covid-19, and the race returns here this year, but does not travel to Arrate – last time around, Roglič took red here, foreshadowing the final result when he won his second Vuelta on the trot.
Read more: Vuelta a España 2022 route: everything you need to know
The route winds its way along the coast for a time, passing through the town of San Sebastian, and covering similar ground for a distance which is ridden for the eponymous one-day Classic. That race was won by one Remco Evenepoel just a few weeks ago, and the young Belgian might see the day as an opportunity to exert his dominance, on terrain with which he is very familiar.
Vuelta a España 2022 stage five map and profile
The first 50km is relatively flat as the route moves along the Bay of Biscay. After 50km an uncategorised climb at the coastal resort of Zumaia kicks off the second part of the race, which is decidedly hillier.
Heading away from the coast, the climbing begins with a pair of third category climbs in quick succession. The Puerto de Gontzagarigana and Balcón de Bizkaia – 5.3km at 4.5% and 4.2km at 5.6% respectively – represent quickfire tests that will wake up the peloton and ensure that the GC teams are attentive to any early moves.
There’s a long descent of around 10km from the pair of category three climbs before the riders are pitched immediately up another climb, the first part of which is uncategorised, and which leads into the next third category ascent, the Alto de Morga. This longer climb of 8.6km is not as steep – just 3.5% on average across its distance – but the pace will start to wind up as with just over 60km to go, the race heads south towards Bilbao.
The final challenge for the riders comes in the shape of two laps around…