The 62nd edition of the Vuelta a Andalucia whil be held from the 17th to the 21st of February 2016, will have a new stage finish. El Puerto de Peñas Blancas which already hosted a stage finish in the 2013 Vuelta a Espana, will host the finish of the fifth and final stage of the Ruta del Sol in 2016. Two days ago the details were presented in Malaga, with the organizers hoping to surpass the standards of the excellent 2015 edition.

Surely Peñas Blancas will be decisive for the final results of the 2016 Vuelta a Andalucia. It is a 1st category climb of 16km which reaches an altitude of 1003 meters and has an average rate of 6%. In the 2013 Vuelta a Espana, Leopold König won the stage ahead of Dani Moreno, Nicolas Roche, Thibaut Pinot and Ivan Basso, with Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez, overall winner Chris Horner and Vincenzo Nibali all coming in a bit later.

In 2015 Chris Froome beat Alberto Contador in Andalusia, with Benat Intxausti in third; Valverde won in 2012, 2013 and 2014; Irizar in 2011, Rogers in 2010, Posthuma in 2009, Freire in 2008 and Lastras in 2007.

On Sunday, February 21, the ascent of Alto de Peñas Blancas will bring the riders into the Paraje Natural de los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, enjoying of magnificent views of the entire western coast of Malaga, including the Strait of Gibraltar and the African coast .

The Provincial Council of Malaga maintained its collaboration with Deporinter, organizer of the Vuelta a Andalucia for another year. In fact, this final stage in Estepona adds to a history of departures and/or stage finishes in the province of Malaga with the most recent being Antequera in 2011, Benalmádena in 2012, Rincon de la Victoria in 2013, Fuengirola in 2014 and Alhaurin de la Torre in 2015