The third stage is the shortest in this tour, but it is also the first out of four stages in which the favourites for the GC must watch their fellow competitors. Driving south from the small village El Tabo, the first hill starts immediately after the start. Apart from the 20 kilometres after this hill, along the sea, the roads will never get flat again. From San Antonio, one of the bigger cities in the province of Valparaíso...
Read moreThe third stage is the shortest in this tour, but it is also the first out of four stages in which the favourites for the GC must watch their fellow competitors. Driving south from the small village El Tabo, the first hill starts immediately after the start. Apart from the 20 kilometres after this hill, along the sea, the roads will never get flat again. From San Antonio, one of the bigger cities in the province of Valparaíso, the riders strong on the short hills will watch their chance to get away from the peloton.
It’s especially the final ten kilometres which have to be watched carefully. It all starts with a short but very steep hill, which is only 1 km in length, but has an average of 9%, peaking to 15%! However, there is no downhill part yet, as the road keeps on rising with 3% until the flag of 4 km has been passed. Then, a hallucinating and incredibly fast descent to Cuncumen has to be conquered. It goes down as steep as 20%, so only the most technical skilled riders will be able to fight for the win, as only the last few hundred meters are flat. Some precious seconds might be won or lost here, but with the most difficult stages to come, nothing is decided here yet.