The second time trial and by far the more important, 32 km across the flat country between El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez de la Frontera. Both towns belong to the sherry triangle, and Jerez is known equally for Andalusian horses, flamenco and its racing circuit. Where the Monaco opener was a test of handling, this is a straightforward measure of sustained power, with barely 100 metres of climbing in it. With only three stages remaining it is the last chance for a time triallist to recover what the mountains have taken, and the point at which a climber defending a narrow lead is most exposed.