Vuelta a Espana 2024 - Stage 9: Tough mountain stage through the Sierra Nevada

Vuelta a Espana - the most important facts in brief

• Stage 9, Sunday, 25 August
• Motril - Granada, 178.2 kilometres, mountain stage
• Official start: 12:49 pm
• Estimated arrival time: ~ 17:16 - 17:46
• TV broadcast: 14:30 - 18:00 Eurosport 1
• Live stream: Discovery Plus (subject to a charge)
• All stages of the Vuelta a Espana 2024 at a glance
• More info on TV broadcast & live stream

Vuelta 2024: Stage 9 - route, elevation profile and map

From the province of Jaen, the route continues from the finish of stage 8, Cazorla, around 200 kilometres south to Motril for the start of stage 9. The city on the Costa Tropical with around 60,000 inhabitants is located in the province of Granada. The day's destination is in the provincial capital of the same name. There would only be around 70 kilometres between the start and finish on the direct route, but not for the participants of the Vuelta a Espana 2024, who will be doing an additional loop through the mountains. But more on that later. From the start, the route initially leads northwards from the coast inland. With a few exceptions, the route climbs continuously until Granada at kilometre 80.

In Granada itself, the peloton turns eastwards into the Sierra Nevada. With the 3482 metre high Mulhacen, it is also the highest mountain range on the Iberian peninsula. The cycling pros won't be travelling quite that high on this day, but the ride over three first-category mountains will still be strenuous. First up is the Puerto de El Purche with a length of 8.9 kilometres and an average gradient of 7.6 percent. There is even a short intermediate descent below the summit, shortly after the steepest section with a gradient of up to 17 per cent.

Then there is the Alto de Hazallanas in a double pack. The mountain is 7.1 kilometres long and has an average gradient of 9.5 percent. However, the last two kilometres to the summit flatten out somewhat with single-digit gradients. The first five kilometres or so, on the other hand, are double-digit gradients with the exception of a short descent, with the steepest ramp at 20 percent. From the summit of Hazallanas, there is a descent and a short flat section to the finish in Granada.

Sporting assessment of the 9th stage

4370 metres of climbing await the riders, only the 20th stage has more with 4730 metres of climbing. It is a day that could provide a preliminary decision in the overall standings. Many riders know the climbs very well, as they often set up their training camps in the Sierra Nevada. The Alto de Hazallanas is so steep that it will provide a natural selection.

However, it's not just good climbing skills that are required, as there is another downhill after the last climb of the day. A courageous classics rider with good downhill skills is therefore the type of rider who has the best chance of winning the day.

Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana 2024

The neutral start will take place at 12:35. The sharp start is scheduled for 12:49. The finish is expected at 17:16 with an average speed of 40 km/h, 17:30 at 38 km/h and 17:46 at 36 km/h.

Eurosport will be broadcasting all stages of the Vuelta a Espana 2024. Stage 9 will be shown on Eurosport 1 on free-to-air TV from 14:30.* Including post-event coverage, the broadcast will run until 18:00. A live stream on the internet is also available from the paid provider Discovery Plus.

* Transmission times are subject to change.