The penultimate stage of the Vuelta is, on paper, one of the toughest stages of the race. The remaining riders will face a staggering 4,000 meters of elevation gain. After 171 kilometers, there will undoubtedly be casualties at the grueling Picón Blanco, which is included in the Vuelta route for only the second time in history.

The final stage takes place in the province of Burgos and features constant ups and downs. The stage starts in Villarcayo, which is known for the inhabited karst caves of Ojo Guareña. In the first kilometers, the peloton heads north, and after about fifteen kilometers, the stage begins to wind around, with the entire route looping around the mountains surrounding the Picón Blanco.

At 35 kilometers into the stage, the Las Estacas de Truebla (9.3 km at 3.1%) is the first climb of the day, followed quickly by the Puerto de La Braguia (6.1 km at 5.6%). These two climbs are the easiest of the day. Following these are five more categorized climbs of second or first category in the final 100 kilometers.

Halfway through the stage, the Alto del Caracol (10.5 km at 5.5%), Portillo de Lunada (14 km at 6.2%), and Portilla de la Sia (7.2 km at 5.8%) will further deplete the riders. After the last climb, a long descent leads to the finale, starting with the Puerto de Los Tornos (13.2 km at 5.4%).

By this point, the riders will have already accumulated over 3,000 meters of climbing, without encountering exceptionally steep gradients. However, these are yet to come. In Espinosa de los Monteros, at 162.5 kilometers into the stage, the final climb to Picón Blanco (7.6 km at 9.2%) begins.

This climb rarely drops below ten percent gradient, except in the first and last kilometers. From kilometer 3.5, the climb becomes truly severe, with sections approaching twenty percent.

The Picón Blanco was also part of the Vuelta in 2021. On that occasion, Rein Taaramäe won the stage from the breakaway and took over the red leader's jersey. The general classification riders largely stayed out of the action then, but the scenario will be different now: whereas the 2021 stage to Picón Blanco was the first mountain stage, this time it is the climax of the race.

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30 Jul 2020	Vuelta a Burgos - Stage 3
15 Aug 2019	Vuelta a Burgos - Stage 3
3 Aug 2017	Vuelta a Burgos - Stage 3