"Activists urge caution in planning Vuelta a España, vessel 'Bola del Mundo' high summit finish to be avoided"
Vuelta a España 2025 Faces Environmental Concerns Over Stage 20 Finish
The Vuelta a España 2025 is set to conclude on the Alto de Guarramillas, also known as the "Bola del Mundo," but concerns have been raised over its environmental impact. The Autonomous Agency for National Parks (OAPN) has expressed similar objections to those voiced in 2022, when the Vuelta a España faced criticism for planning to hold the finish of stage 15 in a remote section of the Sierra Nevada.
In 2010, the Vuelta a España used the Alto de Guarramillas as the finish for stage 20 and again in 2012. However, that year, crowds trampled the park's flora, vehicles were allowed to drive up Bola del Mundo despite promises of only motorbikes and ambulances, and advertising banners were staked into the ground. The Vuelta organizers also did not have sufficient waste bins.
These incidents have led to concerns about the potential impacts of noise, waste, and overcrowding of people and vehicles on the park. Javier Pantoja, the Director of OAPN, has expressed his worry that the finish of stage 20 in 2025 may not comply with the PRUG's (master plan for use and management) specifications for the Vuelta a España, which require the finish to be in an urban area.
The climb for stage 20 begins on Puerto de Navacerrada and features gradients of up to 23% in the final three kilometers. The finish takes place at a hiking area at an altitude of 2,247 meters, known as the Hoya del Mora, which was the alternative finish for stage 15 in 2022, after the initial plan was rejected.
Despite these concerns, the Vuelta a España coverage in 2025 can be accessed through a Cyclingnews subscription. The final stage of the race is planned to be a thrilling spectacle, with the riders battling it out on the challenging slopes of Alto de Guarramillas. However, the environmental impacts of the event remain a pressing issue that the Vuelta organizers must address.
In 2022, the Vuelta a España faced similar objections when organizers planned to hold the finish of stage 15 on Pico Veleta, a remote peak in the Sierra Nevada. The race ultimately ended on the Hoya del Mora instead. Environmentalists have criticized the Vuelta organizers for not following recommended protections in 2010, and it remains to be seen whether they will take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by OAPN in 2025.
Read also:
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
