November 3: Muros to Mirador de Ézaro. Dumbría (ITT), 33.7km
Image 1 of 2
Stage 13 profile(Image credit: Unipublic)
Stage 13 map(Image credit: Unipublic)
Stage 13: Muros to Mirador de Ézaro. Dumbría
Date: November 3, 2020
Distance: 33.7km
Stage start: 1:33 pm CEST
Stage finish: 5:20 pm
Stage type: Individual Time Trial
After a rest day in A Coruña, racing recommences with the Vuelta’s only time trial. It’s a very intriguing test between the coastal town of Muros and third-category summit of the Mirador de Ézaro, where Catalan climber Joaquim Rodríguez won on the opening day of the 2012 edition.
The 33.7km course begins by running around the peninsula to the west of the picturesque fishing town of Muros, remaining very close to sea level. Any difficulty on the opening section will come from the wind, which is likely to gust off the Atlantic from the west, or perhaps from the north-west. As a consequence, the riders will have it blowing across them or even as a direct headwind for a substantial part of the route.
Much like the La Planche des Belles Filles time trial on the last weekend of the Tour de France, the riders will face a choice when they get to the climb and toward the finish. Although the ascent to the Mirador de Ézaro is only 1.8km in length, it averages 14.8 per cent and there may be an advantage to be gained from switching to a road bike from a time trial set-up at the foot of it.
On a course that already favours them, this should suit the time trial specialists even more, and notably defending champion Primož Roglič. Other names to watch include Jumbo-Visma’s Tom Dumoulin, winner of the equivalent time trial in the 2015 race and, if he’s back to his best, two-time Vuelta champion Chris Froome, twice a winner of Vuelta time trials of a similar distance to this.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
