Vuelta 2019 Route stage 8: Valls – Igualada

Saturday 31 August- Stage 8 in the Vuelta a España sets off in Valls and travels to Igualada. The 166.9 kilometres race is bound to see a sprint finish, although the Puerto de Montserrat could stand in the way.

Valls hosts the Volta a Catalunya almost yearly, but it's been six years since La Vuelta last visited the Catalonian town. In 2013, a stage left to Castelldefels and Warren Barguil - only 21 years of age at the time - took the win.

The route of the 8th stage of the 2019 Vuelta goes to Igualada, which served as a finish in the 2017 Volta a Catalunya with Nacer Bouhanni sprinting to victory. Chances are the Vuelta stage to Igualada also comes down to a sprint finish, although the Puerto de Montserrat - 7.4 kilometres at 6.6% - could thwart the ambitions of the fast men.

The race is played out on rolling roads and the reach the Montserrat-summit with 27 kilometres remaining. The downhill begins a few kilometres later. Following the descent the last 5 kilometres is a flat run-in to the line.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint (at kilometre 112) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Another interesting read: results/race report 8th stage Vuelta a España 2019.