The most important information about the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
- Wednesday, 10 September: O Barco de Valdeorras - Alto de El Morredero
- Length: 143.2 kilometres (mountainous)
- Altitude metres: 3371
- Sharp start: 13:41
- Arrival at the finish: ~17:00-17:21
- TV broadcast: from 14:30 Eurosport 1
- Live stream: Discovery Plus (fee required)
- All stages of the Vuelta a España 2025 at a glance
- The start list
- To the Vuelta live ticker
Route of the 17th stage of the Tour of Spain 2025
The first 10 kilometres of the stage are mostly slightly uphill with gentle gradients, followed by a similarly long descent and a flat section. After around 40 kilometres, the riders have to tackle the first serious climb, which rises over 3.1 kilometres at an average of 6 per cent. This is followed shortly afterwards by another climb of 5.3 kilometres with a gradient of 4.1 per cent. However, no mountain points are awarded for these early climbs.
The first mountain points of the day come on the Paso de las Traviesas, a 7.8 kilometre climb with an average gradient of 4.1 percent, which is crossed after 75 kilometres. After an undulating start, the final climb begins with a veritable wall after crossing the Boeza River: gradients of up to 16 per cent are reached over the first five kilometres. Over the last four kilometres or so, the mountain flattens out a little and the gradient percentages become single digits. Over its entire length of 8.8 kilometres, the Alto de El Morredero has an average gradient of 9.7 per cent.
Sporting assessment of the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
The Alto de El Morredero is an ideal stage for the general classification riders to gain time. Explosive climbers could use the first steep kilometres of the climb in particular to attack. At the same time, the stage with its manageable length and the single long final climb is also predestined for a successful breakaway group. Mountain specialists who no longer play a role in the overall classification could sense their chance here. The route with its moderate climbs in the first half of the stage allows strong breakaway riders to build up a comfortable lead before the finale begins. The decisive factor will be how controlled the favourites' teams manage the race. Will they let an escape group of safe riders go, or will they fight for the stage win themselves? The answer to this question will determine the course of the race and show whether we will see a battle between the classification riders or a victory from the escape group.
Leon Weidner
Working student
