Vuelta a España 2022 stage 8 preview - GC battle resumes in the mountains

Stage 8: La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana - Colláu Fancuaya. Yernes y Tameza

Date: Saturday, August 27, 2022

Distance: 153.4km

Stage timing: 13:10-17:30 CET

Stage type: Mountain

After a day of relative calm in the general classification battle at the Vuelta a España on stage 7, the red jersey hopefuls could resume hostilities on a more mountainous stage 8.

All told, the 153.4km stage from La Pola Llaviana to the Colláu Fancuaya will take riders over six categorized climbs in the Asturias region, offering plenty of launching pads for talented climbers to try their luck.

The finishing mountain, which was only tarmacked in 2019, isn't the toughest of the race, but at 10.3km and a 7.9% average it's likely to bring more movement in the GC battle. The single lane road is typical of the Vuelta, with its changeable slopes and steep gradients, though it is just one of many summit finishes during the race.

It's by far the hardest climb of the stage, too, with the preceding hills all marked as second- and third-category climbs and the penultimate test coming at 40km from the line on the 153km stage. Still, plenty of mountain points out there for anyone targeting that classification.

The up-and-down nature of the profile could make it difficult to control, giving the breakaway specialists a chance in the battle for the stage. Regardless of who takes the day's stage honors, the GC riders will almost certainly do what they can to bring excitement to the finale.

Remco Evenepoel will take a GC lead of 21 seconds over Rudy Molard into stage 8, with Enric Mas sitting third a further eight seconds back.

Fourth-placed Primož Roglič, however, will draw plenty of attention from his rivals on Saturday. The three-time Vuelta GC winner stormed to victory on stage 4 of the race only to watch as Evenepoel left him behind on a challenging stage 6, and he now sits 1:01 back on the overall standings.

Stage 8 should offer another showdown between the pair, with Mas and others likely to be in the mix as well.