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Stage 20: Pamplona – Lekunberri
Date: September 16
Distance: 208km
Stage type: Hilly
Starting in Navarra’s main city, the final stage of the second week of the Vuelta a España 2023 should be a day favourable to the breakaway. The route includes a double ascent of Zuarrarrate with the final climb taking place just eight kilometres from the finish line, a perfect place to launch an attack.
Heading west from Pamplona, the 156.5km stage 15 takes a right turn in Estella after 52 kilometres on rolling terrain before tackling the first climb of the day, which makes its appearance eight kilometres later. The category 3 Puerto de Lizarraga (19.3 km long at 2.6%) crests at 1031 metres high, and is followed by a 500-metre drop on a 12km descent to Etxarri-Aranatz.
After heading eastward, the riders will turn north for the ascent of Puerto de Zuarrarrate (7.3km long at 4.8%) for the first time before a quick descent which includes two successive 180 turns leading into a right-hander into the short 29-km loop back to Zuarrarrate for the second time. Stage hunters will tackle the two u-turns inside of the final two kilometres before a final sharp left turn at 600 metres from the finish line in Lekunberri.
