Just when the riders thought it was over, the organisers pitched in another two category one climbs. The stage heads from Las Rozas to Segovia over 145.5 kilometres. The Puerto de Navacerrada and el Puerto de Navafria come in the first part of the race. From there it is mostly downhill/flatish to the finish, but with some rollers that will allow for a small group to stay away. The finish Segovia is still at 1,190 metres of altitude.
The finishing circuit is the same that was used in the Spanish National Champions of 1995, won by Jesús Montoya. The riders will complete two loops of it. The uphill is slightly uphill. All in all a darn tough stage so close to the finish.
The old city of Segovia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit. Segovia marks the end point of the Aqueduct of Segovia or aqueduct bridge. It is an impressive Roman aqueduct, with two levels of arches at the base. The Romans brought cold water in from the Río Frío or cold river, almost 20 kilometres away.
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Giro d'Italia stage 8 LIVE: A good chance for the breakaway or puncheurs with four climbs packed into challenging finale
A challenging day in the Marche hills concludes with an 8% finishing climb in Fermo -
Itzulia Women: Dominika Włodarczyk seizes first WorldTour victory on stage 2 as attackers narrowly hold off rapidly chasing race leader
Polish rider denies Mischa Bredewold back-to-back wins as attacking companion Shirin van Anrooij takes third -
Dutch federation U-turn on under-23 cuts with appointment of Chantal van den Broek-Blaak as women's U23 national coach
'I hope not only to help young talents progress athletically, but also to inspire them in their development as people and athletes' says retired Dutch rider, after KNWU made cuts to U23 programme -
Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman limit losses but can't match the best on Giro d'Italia's first GC test
Netcompany Ineos duo finish 21st and 10th on Blockhaus with Arensman continuing to look stronger
