Vuelta 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch Stage 6 online with NBC Sports Gold

The 2016 Vuelta a Espana field is shockingly strong and the big dogs are already well positioned, with Alejandro Valverde, Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana in second, third and fourth, respectively, on the general classification. The fact that Darwin Atapuma is in first may suggest that the really difficult racing hasn’t quite begun, however, and Stage 6 isn’t likely to shake up the standings much, though it should be fun to watch.

Stage 6 will take riders on a twisty route for 163.2 kilometers from Monforte de Lemos to Luintra/Ribeira Sacra beginning at 7:36 a.m. ET. Universal HD will host coverage of the stage from 7-9 a.m. For those who don’t get the channel, there’s NBC Sports Gold, a subscription service that will stream the stage live beginning at 9 a.m., as well as provide live tracking and commentary.

The stage is ripe for a breakaway, with lots of hills over the second half of the course including a Category 2 climb to Alto Alenza. There is just enough up-and-down action to ensure the sprinters will be neutralized, and not enough serious climbs to motivate general classification contenders to chase.

Atapuma will spend a second straight day in red, becoming the first person at this year’s Vuelta to wear the Maillot Rojo for consecutive days. Atapuma took over the top of the standings after finishing second on Stage 4. The 28-year-old finished ninth at the Giro d’Italia earlier this year in what was the best Grand Tour result of his career thus far. On Stage 5 on Wednesday, he finished with the bunch sprint, losing no time to his rivals.

Map and profile courtesy of the Vuelta’s official site.

Start time: 7:36 a.m. ET

Route: 163.2 kilometers from Monforte de Lemos to Luintra/Ribeira Sacra

TV: Universal HD, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Streaming: NBC Sports Gold (subscription required), starting at 9 a.m.