This weekend the riders will hit some of the Andalusian mountains. Today's stage has three climbs, but the toughest is clearly the finish on La Pandera.
Fernando Escartín commentary:
Mountain. The heat will accompany the peloton during a “leg-breaker” stage with a final climb up La Pandera (HC). The accumulated exhaustion and high temperatures will hinder a stage that could be favourable for a breakaway win, depending on everyone's interests regarding the general classification.
Profile:
Climbs:
Km 85.5 - Puerto El Mojón - 8.8 kilometre-long climb at 3.7% - category 3
Km 153.1 - Puerto Locubin - 8.5 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 2
Km 175.0 - Sierra de la Pandera - 12 kilometre-long climb at 7.3% - category H
Sierra de la Pandera:
Final 5 km:
The Sierra de la Pandera has been a finish several times before in the Vuelta. In 2002 Roberto Heras won; in 2003 Alejandro Valverde; in 2006 Kashechkin. In 2009 Damiano Cunego won the stage from a breakaway. Alejandro Valverde lost 14 seconds to Samuel Sánchez, but he kept the leader's jersey.
Fernando Escartín commentary:
Mountain. The heat will accompany the peloton during a “leg-breaker” stage with a final climb up La Pandera (HC). The accumulated exhaustion and high temperatures will hinder a stage that could be favourable for a breakaway win, depending on everyone's interests regarding the general classification.
Profile:

Climbs:
Km 85.5 - Puerto El Mojón - 8.8 kilometre-long climb at 3.7% - category 3
Km 153.1 - Puerto Locubin - 8.5 kilometre-long climb at 4.8% - category 2
Km 175.0 - Sierra de la Pandera - 12 kilometre-long climb at 7.3% - category H
Sierra de la Pandera:

Final 5 km:

The Sierra de la Pandera has been a finish several times before in the Vuelta. In 2002 Roberto Heras won; in 2003 Alejandro Valverde; in 2006 Kashechkin. In 2009 Damiano Cunego won the stage from a breakaway. Alejandro Valverde lost 14 seconds to Samuel Sánchez, but he kept the leader's jersey.