The decisive day, the queen stage, the most extreme challenge. Stage number 20 of Vuelta España number 80: Robledo de Chavela - Bola del Mundo, 165.6 km with 4,226 meters of elevation gain and the most anticipated final climb.

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Let's start with one certainty: there won't be a single flat meter. Second certainty: the stage begins with La Escondida - 3rd category, 9 km at 4.1% at km 13.6 - and immediately after La Paradilla - 3rd category, 5.8 km at 5.4% at km 26.4 - will offer the right opportunity for the day's attackers who want to attempt an epic feat.

Following, a historic climb for the Vuelta like Alto del Leon, 2nd category, 7 km at 7.3% at km 59 and then - in a crescendo of difficulty - Alto de Navacerrada, 1st category, 6.9 km at 7.6% at km 115.8. The climb will be from the Segovian side, the one with the "seven hairpins", then a descent and finally the final ascent to Bola del Mundo: hors categorie climb, 12.3 km at 8.6%, maximum gradients in double digits with a 2 in front, finish at 2,251 meters without spectators to respect as much as possible the ecosystem of the Sierra de Guadarrama national park. It will be up there that we'll know the name of the winner of this tormented edition of the Vuelta.