The most important information about the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
- Wednesday, 3 September: Bilbao - Bilbao
- Length: 157.4 kilometres (hilly)
- Altitude metres: 3185
- Start time: 13:51
- Arrival at the finish: ~17:20-17:41
- TV broadcast: from 13:15 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 11th stage of the Tour of Spain 2025
The eleventh stage of the Vuelta a España 2025 takes the riders on a challenging tour through the Basque Country, starting and finishing in Bilbao. The 157-kilometre route is characterised by short but sometimes very steep climbs, which are likely to provide momentum, especially in the finale. The route begins with the Alto de Laukiz, a 3.9 kilometre climb with an average gradient of 4.7 per cent. An almost 12 per cent steep section just before the summit is particularly challenging. Next up for the peloton is the Alto de Sollube, which is already a serious test with its 7.2 kilometres and 4.2 per cent average gradient. After passing through Guernica - world-famous for Picasso's painting depicting the bombing of the city during the Spanish Civil War - the route continues to the Balcón de Bizkaia. This 4.3-kilometre climb with a gradient of 5.4 per cent takes riders up a panoramic mountain range. The descent to Múgica is followed by the Alto de Morga, an 8.2-kilometre climb with a moderate 3.5 per cent gradient. At the summit, there are still 71 kilometres to go to the finish.
The finale of the stage is characterised by the double ascent of the Alto del Vivero. With a length of 4.2 kilometres and an average gradient of 8.3 percent, this climb is already a serious challenge. The route is reminiscent of the stage to Bilbao from 2022, but this time the race does not end after the second descent from the Vivero. Instead, another particularly challenging climb awaits the riders in the form of the Alto de Pike. At just 2.3 kilometres long, the Pike is shorter than the Vivero, but with an average gradient of 8.9 percent, it is significantly steeper. The summit of the Alto de Pike is just over 7 kilometres before the finish in Bilbao, which should make for an exciting finale.
Sporting assessment of the 11th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
The eleventh stage of the Vuelta 2025 offers a profile that is perfect for puncheurs and riders with experience in the classics. The route is reminiscent of the Clásica San Sebastián, which also takes place in the Basque Country and has similar short, steep climbs. There is also a good chance for a breakaway group if they can pull out a sufficient lead before the final one-two punch of Vivero and Pike. The overall classification riders will be particularly challenged on the steep Alto de Pike, where valuable seconds can still be gained shortly before the finish. The technically demanding descents, especially those from Vivero to Bilbao, could also provide an opportunity for courageous downhill specialists to break away. All in all, this stage promises to be an exciting battle in which the classics specialists are likely to have the best cards.
Leon Weidner
Working student
