Into the unknown: Vuelta a España GC favourites face test on new summit finish

The Vuelta a España stage 4 uphill finish began opening the gaps but the real first mountain test comes on stage 6
The Vuelta a España stage 4 uphill finish began opening the gaps but the real first mountain test comes on stage 6 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

The Vuelta a España is never slow to test climbing form and the 2022 race is no exception, with the first major mountain day on stage 6 set to put the GC riders through their paces with a 12 kilometre final ascent, Pico Jano.

The opening mountain stage of any Grand Tour is always a voyage into the unknown, but on this occasion even more so. Pico Jano has never been used in a pro race before, only in a couple of local under 23 events, and the final four kilometres set to be used on Thursday were only tarmacked this summer.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.