Second stage of La Vuelta, this edition’s first in-line and first new starting point. This 173-km stage holds two cat 3 climbs, the Pruna Pass - a newcomer to this race - at km 75 and the Ronda Pass, located at km 130.

From the Ronda Pass to Marbella, the fourth time this city is hosting the stage finish, this course lends itself to a sprint finish. The teams with sprinters will be having their first chance to make themselves noticed, provided they control the possible breakaways. La Vuelta has not gone through Marbella since 1996, when Fabio Baldato won the high-speed dash to the finish line.