After an easier-than-usual route so far, it's time for the queen stage (in theory at least, it has slightly more elevation gain than the Asturian stages) on the Vuelta's favourite position of the second Sunday. The previous mountains have produced very little in the way of gaps between the remaining contenders, if that doesn't change here it will essentially be a one-week race to decide the winner, but the profile at least has potential for major action.
The first quarter of the stage is straightforward, then the route rises in four steps to the Alto de Cuatro Vientos. The climb matches the profile below as far as the junction to Macael at 8k, then finishes with another 2.6k at 6.2%.
After the descent, there's one final sustained flat section before the hardest climb of the race so far, Collado Venta Luisa. This climb marks the highest point of this year's race, and unlike in 2009, the riders take it on from what is probably its hardest side (then again, that stage also featured a second ascent of Velefique). With only three ESP climbs all race, I'm somewhat surprised at it only being a cat. 1. Either way, it's the profile below minus the final stretch from the pass to Calar Alto.
The remainder of the stage is identical to the 2009 one, with Alto de Castro de Filabres (the profile below from the junction to Collada Venta Luisa onwards) as the obligatory link...
...to the start of Alto de Velefique, with 5k at 9.1% early on followed by more gradual climbing. It didn't cause large gaps in 2009, then again both the following stages ended on harder MTFs and that year's race was hampered by defensive racing in general, leaving cause for some optimism. Either way, it's the first 18.5 k of the profile below.