Stage 20 Robledo de Chavela - Bola del Mundo (165.6km)
Anyone who thought the Vuelta was winding down gently toward Madrid after the time trial and the sprint stage is completely mistaken. On Saturday comes perhaps the toughest stage of the entire race, finishing atop the Bola del Mundo (12.5 kilometers at 8.5%). This climb, located northwest of Madrid, has mythical status. Thanks to the antennas at the summit, it was nicknamed the Rocket to the Moon in Tintin. Yet it has only featured twice before in the Vuelta, most recently in 2012.
Before the riders even reach the Bola del Mundo, a series of brutal ascents in the Sierra de Guadarrama awaits. In order: the Alto de la Escondida (11 kilometers at 3.7%), Puerto de la Paradilla (5.5 kilometers at 5.5%), and the Alto del León (7.4 kilometers at 7.1%) in the opening part of the stage, followed in the finale by the Puerto de Navacerrada (6.9 kilometers at 7.6%). From there, the road continues seamlessly into the Bola del Mundo. A neat fact: the Puerto de Navacerrada quite literally leads into the Bola del Mundo.
| Date | Saturday 13 September |
| Start |  Robledo de Chavela |
| Finish | Bola del Mundo |
| Distance | 165.6 km |
| Elevation gain | 4226 m |
| Start time | 13:00 |
| Expected finish | 17:17-17:44 |
Stage 20 Robledo de Chavela - Bola del Mundo (165.6km)
Anyone who thought the Vuelta was winding down gently toward Madrid after the time trial and the sprint stage is completely mistaken. On Saturday comes perhaps the toughest stage of the entire race, finishing atop the Bola del Mundo (12.5 kilometers at 8.5%). This climb, located northwest of Madrid, has mythical status. Thanks to the antennas at the summit, it was nicknamed the Rocket to the Moon in Tintin. Yet it has only featured twice before in the Vuelta, most recently in 2012.
Before the riders even reach the Bola del Mundo, a series of brutal ascents in the Sierra de Guadarrama awaits. In order: the Alto de la Escondida (11 kilometers at 3.7%), Puerto de la Paradilla (5.5 kilometers at 5.5%), and the Alto del León (7.4 kilometers at 7.1%) in the opening part of the stage, followed in the finale by the Puerto de Navacerrada (6.9 kilometers at 7.6%). From there, the road continues seamlessly into the Bola del Mundo. A neat fact: the Puerto de Navacerrada quite literally leads into the Bola del Mundo.