Vuelta a España: Stage 8
Parcours preview
Distance: 170km
Category: Mountains
Highest point: 970m
Although there are plenty of well known climbs in Andalucia, the Vuelta organisers have turned up another new one to test out the riders. The climb to Peñas Blancas should be impressive, too, as it climbs up from the shores of the Mediterranean at Estepona into the Bermeja massif that runs just behind and parallel to the coast. The approach to the final climb is not too tough and it would be no surprise to see the break of the day make it to the final ascent, which rises to 1,000 metres over 16km, giving an average of seven per cent. Although there are one or two much steeper ramps, mostly in the opening 3km, the climb's difficulty stems mainly from its length.
Abraham Olano: "This is a difficult stage for the riders with GC ambitions. It starts of easily enough and
the middle section is fairly straightforward but the last climb rises for 11km right from the coast. The GC contenders will definitely need good climbing legs today."
Don't forget to download the Cyclingnews Tour Tracker mobile app for live coverage of the Vuelta!

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Peter Cossins has written about professional cycling since 1993 and is a contributing editor to Procycling. He is the author of The Monuments: The Grit and the Glory of Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races (Bloomsbury, March 2014) and has translated Christophe Bassons' autobiography, A Clean Break (Bloomsbury, July 2014).
Most Popular
By Barry Ryan
By Barry Ryan
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Van der Poel to 'gamble', racing road and mountain bike at Glasgow Worlds
Dutchman returns to action at weekend ahead of Tour de France -
Broken gear, barbed wire, mud wreak havoc on Unbound Gravel 200 favourites
From defending champion Ivar Slik to 2021 winner Lauren De Crescenzo, 2023 race edition went eskew after just 10 miles of racing for many contenders -
Steven Kruijswijk fractures collarbone and pelvis in Critérium du Dauphiné crash
Tour de France participation in serious doubt after multiple injuries -
As it happened: Alaphilippe beats Carapaz to Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 win
Frenchman has fastest sprint to the line on hilly 167.5km stage