La Vuelta 2022 Stage 21 LIVE – Mads Pederson favourite to make it four wins in three weeks, Evenepoel set to become Vuelta champion

After the gentlest of rolls up and back through the township of Las Rozas, Javier Guillen rises from the car for the final time this year and waves the red flag to signal the commencement of today's racing.

The four jersey wearers - including Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) who wears white on behalf of Remco Evenepoel - line out across the road. Next to Ayuso is Alejandro Valverde for whom this is the last Grand Tour experience after a career spanning more than 20 years.

Though there was some disappointment at his early fall from contention in the overall, the silver lining was what Carapaz added to individual stages. Today is his 200th Grand Tour start, and his last for Ineos Grenadiers before his transfer to EF Education Easypost for the 2023 season.

The final touches are being made to preparations in Spain's capital to greet the riders of the 2022 Vuelta a Espana. The peloton will proceed into the city for 35km from the start at La Rozas before beginning the first of ten laps of the same circuit as the Madrid Challenge completed earlier.

They've rolled out for the neutralised start with kilometre zero due to be passed in six minutes time. Though the finish will surely be contested at speed, do not expect the liveliest of starts.