About as flat as stages come in this part of southern Spain, this one does give the sprinters good reason for optimism. It is not problem-free, though. There are two categorised climbs and plenty of ups and downs in between them. The tougher of the two ascents comes early on, while there are almost 40 kilometres to the finish from the top of the cat 3 climb. The final 5km into new stage town Alcaudete rises steadily at around 4 per cent, which may well bring some punchier riders into the frame as well as the sprinters.
It's the kind of day where a rider such as Orica's Michael Albasini could lead the pack home, with the GC contenders happy to roll in behind him with their eyes already on Sunday's summit finish.
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'Everything is finally going to plan' - Lucinda Brand extends streak of consecutive cyclocross podiums to 32
Dutch national champion takes back-to-back wins in Gullegem and Dendermonde to continue stunning run of form -
'I'm ahead of schedule' - Wout van Aert builds confidence to road season with World Cup win in Dendermonde
Belgian enjoys 'slogging' in muddy conditions with pair of powerful victories on weekend -
Wout van Aert storms through heavy mud for dominant win at Dendermonde World Cup
Emiel Verstrynge takes career-best elite result in second as Joran Wyseure nets third in Belgium -
Lucinda Brand dominates gruelling mudfest to win Dendermonde World Cup solo
Puck Pieterse and world champion Fem van Empel take second and third in tough conditions
