The first day back after the rest day, and it starts climbing immediately, rising for 23 km to almost 1,300 metres in the Sierra de Alcaraz. Legs are notoriously poor after a rest day and an ascent that early leaves nowhere to hide. Beyond it the stage settles into rolling country through Albacete province, a little over 2,000 metres of climbing in total, with an uphill drag towards the line at Elche de la Sierra. The profile suits a breakaway, and the overall contenders will be more concerned with getting through the morning than with attacking one another.