At the outset, this stage runs over the fist category mountain pass, ALTO DEL ACEBO, which demands heavy straining just a few kilometres away from Ponferrada.

Once riders top this mountain pass, the route runs down to Zamora and only side winds may lead to riders zigzagging.

Zamora will be for the sixth time a stage end in Spain’s Vuelta. This time, a mass arrival sprint is going to decide probably the winner.