Few riders will be sad that this is the final mountain stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España. The race has one of the most difficult starts this year. From the coastal town of Cudillero the road goes up for the first 83 (!) kilometres, until the bunch is on top of the Puerto de Somiedo. The category one levels out at 1,490 metre.
The road then goes down for 60 kilometres, albeit not as steep as on the way up and not all the vertical metres gained on the other side will be lost. The Alto de la Mina (cat 2) starts at 740 metres of altitude. 5.4 kilometres later the riders are at 1,187 metres. From there a lot of downhill is left, with one rise allowing a break to form.
Ponferrada serves as the finish for the first time since 2029, although it has been used as a star town in 1997 and 2006. The finish town will see the riders complete two laps of 10 kilometres. Ponferrada is in the province of Castilla y León. Its location on the Camino de Santiago and the UNESCO World Heritage Las Médulas (ancient Roman gold mines) have had a positive effect on tourism in the region.
-
Exclusive: UCI to fight SRAM legal battle with funds from SRAM-sponsored teams, as SafeR budget used for gear limit case
Teams association outvoted as governing body ring-fences €300,000 from safety group for appeal against Belgian Competition Authority ruling -
Grab a free $50 Amazon Gift Card and watch Strade Bianche and all the best UCI WorldTour racing on the move with this VPN deal
If you're a cycling fan travelling this year, the only way to avoid geo-restrictions is by using a VPN – NordVPN is the best around, recommended by our TechRadar colleagues, and right now, they have huge discounts of up to 74% -
Best cycling watches 2026: Track your fitness on and off the bike
The best cycling watches go beyond your life on a bike, giving insight no matter where you are -
'2028 Olympic Games, an exciting long-term goal' – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot extends contract with Visma-Lease a Bike with aims to improve even further
Tour de France Femmes Champion will remain with Dutch powerhouse team for a fourth season
