This challenging cycling day will commence in Vélez-Málaga and conclude at the demanding Peñas Blancas pass in Estepona. Along the way, the peloton will pass through various towns in Málaga, including Rincón de la Victoria, the capital Málaga, Cártama, Coín, Alozaina, Ronda, and Marbella.
The official presentation of this stage took place in the Salón de Pasos Perdidos of the Málaga Provincial Council. The event was attended by the president of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado; the general director of La Vuelta, Javier Guillén; and the mayors of Vélez-Málaga and Estepona, Jesús Lupiáñez and José María García Urbano, respectively.
“"In the province, there is a great passion for cycling, and it is an ideal territory for practicing this sport, as it combines the beauty of the coastline with that of very tough mountains."
Municipal representatives also highlighted the passion for cycling in their respective areas. The mayor of Vélez-Málaga, Jesús Lupiáñez, emphasized that in his municipality and throughout the Axarquía region, cycling is experienced with great enthusiasm, considering it a suitable territory for intense practice of the sport. Meanwhile, the mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, stressed that cycling is one of the sports that offers the most spectacle and attracts the most fans, and that residents are eagerly awaiting the arrival of La Vuelta.
The general director of La Vuelta, Javier Guillén, underscored the global impact of the event, which is broadcast in 190 countries with over three hours of live daily coverage. It is estimated that the cumulative audience will exceed 450 million by the end of the competition. This will mark the 44th time a stage of La Vuelta has started in a Málaga municipality and the second time from Vélez-Málaga. The province will have hosted 37 final stages, with Peñas Blancas serving as the finish line for the third time. Furthermore, this year will be the nineteenth occasion that a stage is contested entirely within the province.
Experts anticipate that this stage could be favorable for breakaways, as the initial route is relatively flat but will become more challenging in the Serranía de Ronda, culminating in an uphill finish expected to be spectacular. The stage will include four mountain passes and a finish in Peñas Blancas with an accumulated elevation gain of over 1,200 meters across more than 19 kilometers.
