According to In de Leiderstrui, the Vuelta a Espana prep race Ronde de Burgos serves as a key testing ground for Grand Tour contenders, historically featuring winners such as Sepp Kuss, Remco Evenepoel, Mikel Landa, and Alberto Contador. Following Isaac del Toro’s victory for UAE Emirates-XRG last season, the race unfolds across five distinct stages designed to test both sprinters and climbing specialists ahead of the Spanish national tour.
Stage 1: Gumiel de Izán to Burgos Castle
The opening stage covers 165,0 kilometers from Gumiel de Izán to Burgos, culminating with a sharp uphill finish at Alto del Castillo where the final kilometer averages 6,1 percent gradient, according to In de Leiderstrui. Visma | Lease a Bike controlled the peloton to set up Matthew Brennan for the victory. Brennan capitalized on the team strategy to win with significant margin, while teammate Ben Tulett secured second place in the lead-out.
Stage 2: Arcos de la Llana to Pineda de la Sierra
Stage two shifts immediately to the mountains over a 178,0-kilometer route from Arcos de la Llana to Pineda de la Sierra, featuring a summit finish at Valle del Sol measuring 3,5 kilometers at 7,6 percent average gradient, as reported by In de Leiderstrui. Netcompany INEOS rider Oscar Onley claimed the victory in a select group sprint among GC contenders. Onley defeated Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek, Movistar’s Enric Mas, and Jarno Widar representing Lotto-Intermarché, capturing the overall race lead from Matthew Brennan.
Stage 3: Excavaciones Mikel to Balneario de Corconte
The 184,0-kilometer third stage from Excavaciones Mikel to Balneario de Corconte favors longer climbing efforts, bringing the main contenders back to the fore, according to In de Leiderstrui. Felix Gall of Decathlon CMA CGM proved best suited to the terrain, securing the stage win and taking over the race leadership.
Stage 4: Palazuelos de Muñó to Briviesca Sprint Opportunities
Covering 178,0 kilometers from Palazuelos de Muñó to Briviesca, the fourth day offers the primary opportunity for pure sprinters in the field, as outlined by In de Leiderstrui. While the route includes minor obstacles approaching the finish line, the profile remains too moderate to distance the fastest riders. Key sprint favorites for the stage include Matthew Brennan of Visma | Lease a Bike, Laurence Pithie representing Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, and TotalEnergies rider Emillien Jeanniere.
Pro Tip: Watch the intermediate obstacles on the approach to Briviesca during Stage 4. While sprinters are heavily favored, positioning before the final kilometers will dictate who survives the run to the line.
Stage 5: Caleruega to Lagunas de Neila Climbs
The traditional 137,0-kilometer finale from Caleruega to Lagunas de Neila concludes the race on a 6-kilometer climb averaging 9,9 percent, functioning as a vital test for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana, according to In de Leiderstrui. The winner of this final mountain stage frequently secures the overall general classification title. Top climbers targeted for the finale include Jay Vine of UAE Emirates-XRG, Giulio Ciccone, and Felix Gall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the Ronde de Burgos live?
According to In de Leiderstrui, live television coverage is unavailable due to scheduling conflicts with simultaneous events like the Tour de France Femmes and the Ronde de Polen, though daily race reports are published on their platform.
Who won the previous edition of the Ronde de Burgos?
Isaac del Toro won the race last season competing for UAE Emirates-XRG, as noted by In de Leiderstrui.
What are the key climbs in the race?
Key ascents include the Alto del Castillo finish in Burgos, the Valle del Sol climb, and the brutal 9,9 percent average slopes of Lagunas de Neila on the final day, per In de Leiderstrui.
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