This stage can be well divided into two different parts. A first part in which the wind will probably be the protagonist and will divide the group and a second part towards Salamanca were the route is more demanding. Salamanca seemed to be destined to have a massive arrival but it is the weather the fact that always decides the result of the stage.

Last year the race was started in Salamanca with a time trial that was won by David Millar. In the edition of 2000, there was a stage between Benavente and Salamanca; it was 155 kilometres long and the average speed was 45.6 kilometres per hour.

The Italian rider Davide Bramati was the winner that year in front of Biagio Conte, Fabio Baldato, Marco Zanotti and Pedro Díaz Lobato. The breakaway riders arrived 57 seconds before the big group.

Three attempts to break from the group were tried when leaving Benavente, but the good break succeeded 45 kilometres from the start and arrived in the finish line safe and sound. This year the tactic could be similar.