Preview: What you need to know about stage 8 of the 2022 Vuelta a España
Breakaway to win the stage? Or the GC men? Hard to say!
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Date: Saturday August 27
Start: Pola de Laviana
Finish: Colláu Fancuaya
Distance: 153.4 km
A tough day in the Asturias mountains with six climbs, including one right out of the start and a big one to finish with.
This will be the first time Remco Evenepoel’s red jersey is tested this Vuelta. Can the Belgian replicate the impressive form that gave him the race lead on stage 6? He says he’ll be happy to carry the GC gap he has now into Tuesday’s individual time trial but that if he sees an opportunity to take more time uphill he won’t hesitate to turn the screw.
That last ascent is 10.1 km at 8.5%, including multiple steep ramps of 17% near the end. Ouch.
Who’s it for: This is one of those days that could be for the breakaway or for the overall contenders, depending on how the top teams decide to race it. Either way, this will shape the GC in some way.
