Red jersey up for grabs in Vuelta's stage four
Like the majority of the stages in this year's Vuelta a Espana, Tuesday's Stage 4 sees numerous climbs test the stamina of the race's climbers and overall contenders.
Commentators have noted that the Vuelta's organisers have packed the 2010 route with short climbs to ensure that the race will be in contention for as long as possible.
The many hilly stages, whose short inclines favour the explosive climbers in the lineup, will ensure that the red jersey can be claimed at any point during the three weeks of racing.
Plenty of climbs on Tuesday
Tuesday's fourth stage contains no less than twelve notable ascents, giving breakaway riders plenty of opportunities to gain on the peloton and come away with the stage win.
The stage stretches over 177km between Malaga and Valdepenas de Jaen in the Costa del Sol in southern Spain.
Its first mountain is the Alto Ventas de Zafarraya, a category-2 climb that will bring riders 900m above sea level over 11.2km and an incline of 5.89 per cent.
After 114km, riders will climb 400m to just above 1000m on the Alto de Monefrio before the crucial ascent up the Alto de Valdepenas takes place only 8km before the finish. Monefrio is 8km long at 5.4%, while the Valdepenas has an incline of 4.8 per cent for 9km.
Even if the sprinters in this year's race persevere through these three major climbs, the last kilometre contains sections with an incline of 15 per cent that are sure to prevent a sprint finish.
One for the overall contenders
The stage will be crucial for the general classification riders. Rabobank's Russian rider Denis Menchov won the Vuelta in 2005 and 2007 and is looking to add a third overall victory to his resume this year. A proficient climber, Menchov should be one of the first to cross the finish line on Tuesday.
But SaxoBank's Andy Schleck, desperate to claim his first Grand Tour victory after finishing as runner-up in the Tour de France for the second year in a row this summer, will give Menchov a run for his money.
Aided by his older brother Frank through the climbs, Schleck is set to make an impact before he leaves Bjarne Riis' team at the end of the season.
Riding on home soil, Carlos Sastre of the Cervelo Test Team is another rider tipped to challenge for the red leader's jersey this year. Fans will point to his attack at the bottom of Alpe d'Huez in 2008's Tour de France as proof that the Spaniard can ignite ahead of any climb.
Stage 4 will also have the general classification riders weary of breakaways from climbers looking to grab a stage win.
Named the most combative rider of the 2009 Tour de France, Leonardo Dugue of Team Cofidis could be one to watch for an upset on Tuesday. The 30-year-old won a stage in the 2007 edition of the Vuelta.
Team Confidis' team leader David Moncoutie, who won the mountains classification in the last two editions of the Vuelta, could also be one to pounce on the many climbs in Tuesday's stage.
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