The first major ascent of this year’s race arrives on stage six, where the chief GC contenders are likely to seek some early gains – both mental and physical – over their red jersey rivals.

The category-one ascent of Cumbres Verdes covers 4.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.8 percent.

Such figures, however, disguise the fact that the largely long, straight climb kicks up sharply after the first kilometre.

The Strava segment covers only the final 3.7 kilometres, a long straight ride to the summit with the gradients averaging 11 per cent.

Currently, the Strava benchmark for the segment – held by Spanish UCI continental rider Manuel Sola (Keith Mobel-Partisan) – is 13:35, an effort which saw his power meter give an average reading of 377 watts for the ascent.

With only 55 riders having tackled the ascent on Strava, expect that to fall significantly once the Vuelta peloton rolls into town however.