During this rather hard selective stage, riders have to run through mountain passes, but start with a smooth descent from the Escaldes Engordany (Andorra) departure line to the town of Adrall, in Lerida Province. The first category CANTÓ pass is the first of the four obstacles riders have to overcome in the 160 km long stage.

From the first mountain pass summit to the town of Sort racers go through a long descent followed by a narrow road climbing to the second category ALTO DE ENVINY summit.

Once riders reach the mountain pass top, some deceiving level stretches will let them recover some of their strength and plan strategies to climb the lengthy first category PUERTO DE LA BONAIGUA, the Vuelta highest at 2.070 m altitude, known as the Alberto Fernandez Summit followed by the special category PLA DE BERET mountain pass where the stage end line is waiting.

The end line has been set at Pla de Beret three times in the Vuelta history, although, another one should be added. In 1991, the and line of the stage departing from Andorra was set at Pla de Beret, but had to be cancelled because Puerto de la Bonaigua was snowed in.