The stage runs virtually over a level ground save for some ramps at the route start, in Jaen Province and enclosed the second category ALTO DE SAN JERONIMO mountain pass, where the summit is located at 146 km of the stage length and less than 20 km to the finishing line. This mountain pass is going to witness the first serious breakaway attempts during Spain’s Vuelta 63rd edition and it will even sort out a first group that might hope to stand on the Vuelta final podium.

Cordoba is again a traditional arrival point in Spain’s Vuelta and is going to cheer when racers roar through the stage end line, since victory will be most likely won sprinting, as in 2006, when the Olympic champion and twice World Champion, Paolo Bettini, took the last stage in the City streets.