The Vuelta a España 2023 continues to advance, and its fifteenth day presents a route that connects Pamplona with Lekunberri, covering a total of 158.5 kilometers. This stage, located just before the second break, proposes a combination of mountainous sections and flat terrain.
The start in Pamplona will mark the beginning of a day in which the cyclists will have to face two outstanding ascents. The first of them is the Port of Lizagarra, classified as third category. Although it is not the most extreme mountainous challenge of the Vuelta, it will undoubtedly set the pace and strategy for the teams.
Next, and as the second mountain of the day, the runners must tackle the Puerto de Zuarrarrate. The interesting thing about this promotion is that it will not be faced once, but twice. Although it is also third category, repeating this climb will surely require greater endurance and tactics, especially considering that the last pass through Zuarrarrate occurs just eight kilometers before reaching the finish line in Lekunberri.
Beyond these mountainous challenges, the stage also offers runners an opportunity in the town of Irurtzun. Here, they will be able to earn points towards the standings for the green jersey, which represents the leader in the points category.
The final stretch promises to be exciting. After the final climb to Zuarrarrate, cyclists will have a quick descent followed by a short flat stretch towards Lekunberri. This segment could be decisive in determining who wins the stage, since the differences could be minimal.
The day will begin at 12:20 pm on Sunday, September 10 and can be seen on television on RTVE and Eurosport and can also be followed live on the La Vanguardia website.
