Vuelta Mexico
Tampico -> Veracruz
Stage 1
Tampico -> Tampico
12 km
The fist edition of Vuelta Mexico starts in Tampico (300 000). The "city of otters" will open the race with a fairly short ITT, completely flat but with some technical 90°turns. The first skips in GC will surely arriveStage 2
Cuauhtémoc (5 000) > El Naranjo (20 000)
161 km
The first inline stage will offer a nice fight for the stage honors between puncheurs and resistant sprinters. Arrival in El Naranjo, city of the Minas Viejas FallsGPM: Alto del Abra (3° Categoria, 265 m, 1.9 Km al 6.6%, Km 118.1), Alto de Fortines y Zapata (3° Categoria, 498 m, 4.7 Km al 5.0%, Km 138.2), Alto de Naranjo (3° Categoria, 401 m, 1.2 Km al 6.3%, Km 153.3).
Stage 3
Ciudad del Maiz (31 000) > San Luis Potosì (770 000)
The rising profile should not fool: the stage is for sprinters: In the last 85 km no climbs but only a rising false flat. The finale will be spiced up by the cobbles (3 km ca.) of San Luis Potosi very similar to the italian "sanpietrini" in being not technical, well placed, on wide and straight roads. Finish line after an asphalted straight of 800 metresGPM: Alto de Aguaje Sachez (3° Categoria, 1680 m, 3.7 Km al 6.2%, Km 103.
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215 km
Stage 4
Lagos de Moreno > Atotonilco el Alto
202 km
The first summit finish is very rolling and never steep: it should favour puncheurs more than true climbers.Stage 5
La Piedad de Cabadas > Morelia
182 km
A lumpy stage that could favor breakaways or sprinters. No hard slopes but always up-and-downGPM: Alto de Tlazazalca (3° Categoria, 2046 m, 3.6 Km al 5.0%, Km 62.4), Alto de La Coyotera (3° Categoria, 2379 m, 10.6 Km al 3.0%, Km 84.7), Alto Atzimbo (3° Categoria, 2229 m, 3.3 Km al 4.6%, Km 143.7).
Stage 6
Morelia > Morelia
A technical ITT with a hard wall at the beginning (1 km, 9%) and a flat second part, with long straights and 90° turns26 km
Stage 7
Ciudad Hidalgo > Parque Nevado de Toluca
204 km
The first, true rendez-vous among the GC contenders: the stage is long and hard (4500 D+) and, although with not impossible grades, the last 80 km are always uphill arriving to the 4100 meters of the Nevado de Toluca, one of the highest volcanoes in Mexico.
Last kms are in gravel but very well surfaced: the road is used regularly by the tourists that visit the Park. Rather vast parking at the end.GPM: Alto Macho de Agua (2° Categoria, 2647 m, 14.2 Km al 4.4%, Km 61.
, Alto de Piedra Herrada (1° Categoria, 2908 m, 26.5 Km al 4.2%, Km 152.
, Alto de Mesòn Viejo (2° Categoria, 3221 m, 13.8 Km al 4.2%, Km 176.6), Nevado de Toluca (Hors Catégorie, 4158 m, 21.6 Km al 4.7%, Arrivo).
Stage 8
Toluca > Santa Fe - Mexico City
185 km
A very, very hard medium mountain stage. The Stelvio-like difficulty is placed at -70 before the rollercoaster finale in the rich district of Mexico City: the Calle 35 has ramps at 30%!GPM: Alto de San Miguel (3° Categoria, 2803 m, 4.3 Km al 5.2%, Km 37.0), Alto des Tres Marias (Hors Catégorie, 2777 m, 14.4 Km al 7.8%, Km 115.2), Alto do Calle 35 (3° Categoria, 2734 m, 1.1 Km al 13.4%, Km 158.7), Alto San Jeronimo (3° Categoria, 2668 m, 1.1 Km al 9.1%, Km 169.5).
REST DAY
Stage 9
Apizaco > Teziutlàn
231 km
After the rest day a mixed stage, good for breakaways but with a last climb that could induce the GC men. The last 1500m aare risingGPM: Puerto de Tlaxco (3° Categoria, 2871 m, 7.9 Km al 4.2%, Km 33.5), Puerto de Chichicaxtla (2° Categoria, 2787 m, 8.9 Km al 5.2%, Km 64.1), Alto Tetela de Ocampo (2° Categoria, 2163 m, 9.4 Km al 4.7%, Km 108.1), Puerto del Tomaquillo (2° Categoria, 2119 m, 17.0 Km al 4.3%, Km 166.3), Alto de Coahuixco (3° Categoria, 2208 m, 3.9 Km al 4.7%, Km 203.0), Alto de Ixticpan (2° Categoria, 2126 m, 5.3 Km al 5.9%, Km 220.0).
Stage 10
Martinez de la Torre > Zempoala - Aztec City
157 km
A flat stage finishing in the once Aztec city of ZempoalaStage 11
Zempoala > Cascadas de Naolinco
196 km
Last summit finish with two ascents to Naolinco from two different sides: the first, the steepest, being in a Vuelta-like cemented roadGPM: Puerto de Chopantla (2° Categoria, 1647 m, 7.8 Km al 5.5%, Km 107.9), Alto de Naolinco (2° Categoria, 1496 m, 4.9 Km al 8.9%, Km 150.2), Naolinco (1° Categoria, 1527 m, 11.0 Km al 6.4%, Arrivo).
Stage 12
Xalapa > Fortín de las Flores
188 km
Medium mountain, Liège-like stage that favors puncheurs in the last circuit -to be repeated twice-GPM: Puerto Virgen de Fatima (1° Categoria, 1539 m, 29.8 Km al 3.6%, Km 67.9), Alto Cumbres de Tuxpango (2° Categoria, 1100 m, 4.2 Km al 7.0%, Km 148.
, Fortin Viejo (3° Categoria, 991 m, 1.0 Km al 8.2%, Km 157.
, Alto Cumbres de Tuxpango (2° Categoria, 1100 m, 4.4 Km al 6.7%, Km 177.9), Fortin Viejo (3° Categoria, 991 m, 1.0 Km al 8.2%, Arrivo).
Stage 13
Tecamalucan > Orizaba
120 km
The all-or-nothing stage: the Pico de Orizaba is a BEAST with the last 5 km at 10% at over 3000 m, well asphalted, ending at -42.
Arrival at Orizaba at the end of the long, irregular descent.GPM: Alto de Soledad (Hors Catégorie, 2316 m, 10.7 Km al 8.3%, Km 19.5), Pico de Orizaba (Hors Catégorie, 3244 m, 19.2 Km al 8.4%, Km 82.1).
Stage 14
Cordoba > Veracruz
164 km
The last stage is for sprinters but the last circuit, to be repeated five times, covers very exposed zones in Veracruz. Crosswinds are likely and shape again the general classification.