Major change to the Vuelta route: Roglič and the peloton face a shortened stage

Primož Roglič lost more time on Saturday’s stage. Now he and the rest of the Vuelta peloton will face a radically altered 15th stage, cut by 79.5 kilometers because of the forecast extreme heat.

The route from Palma del Río to Córdoba was originally set to cover 189.7 kilometers. Instead, riders will race over 110.2 kilometers after organizers activated their extreme-weather protocol to protect their health. The decision followed consultations with team and rider representatives, race management and the commissaires’ panel.

The neutralized start will begin at 2:50 p.m., with racing starting 10 minutes later. After 52 kilometers, the peloton will leave the original route. Rather than continuing toward Villaviciosa de Córdoba, riders will take the CO-3402 road toward Santa María de Trassierra, reducing the time spent racing through the hottest conditions.

The organizers said, “We made the decision after activating the extreme-temperature protocol and holding a meeting with representatives of the commissaires’ panel, the teams, the riders and Vuelta management.”

The new route should change the race’s character. Visma Lease a Bike may find it easier to control the pace despite losing France’s Christophe Laporte. With riders likely to be fresher in the finale, the stage could become more explosive, and heavier sprinters may survive to contest it.

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We made the decision after activating the extreme-temperature protocol and holding a meeting with representatives of the commissaires’ panel, the teams, the riders and Vuelta management.