Again, another rather complex mountain stage ends for the first time in Fuentes de Invierno Ski Resort in the Principality of Asturias.

Just 9 kilometres from the Oviedo departure line (since 1997 the Vuelta did not depart from the Prince of Asturias Awards Homecity) riders have to climb the third category ALTO DEL PADRÚN mountain pass followed by the second category one known as ALTO DE SAN EMILIANO, the third category ALTO DE LA CAMPORADA, and the first category ALTO DE LA FALLA DE LOS LOBOS, which was climbed, too, in the previous stage, and ALTO DE LA COLADONA before the arrival line is reached at the special category summit in FUENTES DE INVIERNO Ski Resort.  Still, most of the climb runs along the well known San Isidro Mountain Pass.

In spite of the six mountain passes along the route, the stage is only 158 km long.  This favours breakaway attempts from the first kilometre and makes this stage one of the more breathtaking ones of this edition.