At 175.7 kilometres, the route of stage 5 in the Vuelta a España takes in four hills before the race concludes with a summit finish near Ermita Santa Lucia in Alcossebre. The closing climb is 3.4 kilometres at 9.7%.
Coastal town Benicassin is located almost 100 kilometres to the north of Valencia. The area is bursting with fruit trees – oranges, lemons, tangerines – and while heading inland the riders will see olive plantation and pine trees. Stage 17 in last year’s Vuelta passed through Benicassin early in the race.
The first obstacle is Alto del Desierto de las Palmas, a 2nd category climb that’s crested with 23.8 kilometres done. Via Alto de Cabanes (3rd category), Coll de la Bandereta (2nd category) they stumble upon Alto de la Serratella. This 2nd category climb takes the riders in around 13 kilometres to an elevation of 840 metres. The first part is steepest, the ascent flattens out near the top, while the average slope is 3.8%.
For almost 50 kilometres the route takes in rolling and descending sections before the riders hit the irregular closing climb to Ermita Santa Lucia near Alcossebre. At 3.4 kilometres, the hill is averaging 9.7%. At almost 15%, the first part is steepest, while the final 1,600 metres go up at 5%.
Coastal town Benicassin is located almost 100 kilometres to the north of Valencia. The area is bursting with fruit trees – oranges, lemons, tangerines – and while heading inland the riders will see olive plantation and pine trees. Stage 17 in last year’s Vuelta passed through Benicassin early in the race.
The first obstacle is Alto del Desierto de las Palmas, a 2nd category climb that’s crested with 23.8 kilometres done. Via Alto de Cabanes (3rd category), Coll de la Bandereta (2nd category) they stumble upon Alto de la Serratella. This 2nd category climb takes the riders in around 13 kilometres to an elevation of 840 metres. The first part is steepest, the ascent flattens out near the top, while the average slope is 3.8%.
For almost 50 kilometres the route takes in rolling and descending sections before the riders hit the irregular closing climb to Ermita Santa Lucia near Alcossebre. At 3.4 kilometres, the hill is averaging 9.7%. At almost 15%, the first part is steepest, while the final 1,600 metres go up at 5%.
