First time ever this medium-sized mountain passes stage starts in Cudillero, a fishermen’s village, a perfect setting to start this last week of the 63rd Spain’s Vuelta edition.

From the start, the route is rather winding up to km 86 where the first mountain pass of the day, the first category PUERTO DE SOMIEDO, that exits from Asturias, must be overcome. After topping the mountain pass, the road goes down to a flat stretch to km 143 where the last mountain pass, the second category ALTO DE LA MINA, starts.

From the Alto de la Mina summit to the Ponferrada finishing line the route goes down almost steadily.  This favours breakaway attempts and even the arrival to the stage end line of a large breakaway group.

Since 1989, the Vuelta does not come to Ponferrada, although it has been the starting point of two previous editions: 1997 and 2006. During the 2008 edition, riders will go twice across the Leon Province town arrival line to complete a semi - urban circuit that the Bierzo countryside fans will no doubt enjoy.