THE RACE TO THE WORLD BALL
Definitely sounds better in Spanish, this one. It’s an interesting final course, not too different to the corresponding stage from 2022, won by Richard Carapaz. The race climbs the Vuelta regular the Puerto de Navacerrada, the second time heading heading even higher, up to where the air is thin, at 2251m. The stage will pass through, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the home town of Lidl-Trek’s Carlos Verona. I expect the break to be up the road by then, but I wonder if the local boy will get to lead the peloton.