Distance: 177.3km
Category: Flat
Highest point: 1,022m
Almost a week in and finally the sprinters get a stage without many obvious complications, although the heat in Extremadura can turn even the easiest of days into a horror show. The last time the Vuelta sped into Cáceres, German galloper Erik Zabel led the field home, which should give the sprinters a little more reason to be confident. The stage starts high up at almost a thousand metres, then drops steadily down to Plasencia, just before the halfway point, for a lumpy run-in, where any escapees are likely to be chased down. Cáceres, a relatively unspoiled medieval city that is a World Heritage site, is a stunning setting for the finish, with its imposing walls and towers dotted with storks' nests.
-
Luke Plapp delivers a winning return from wrist surgery on stage 2 at the Tour of Hellas
Australian climbs to victory at 2.1 race in Greece as soon as it hits the mountains -
Trio of WorldTour squads return to Maryland Cycling Classic, while Ali Tetrick and Ellen Noble line up at SGT GRVL as women's mentors
L39ION of LA ready to rumble in Indianapolis while new women's Analog Racing team confirms 'team projects' - North American Rounduup -
Remco Evenepoel adds Tour de Romandie to comeback race schedule
Swiss stage race offers week of racing after the Ardennes Classics -
'It can ruin your day' – Tadej Pogačar criticises social media, backs Wout van Aert to shine in Tour of Flanders after backlash
'On social media, there are a lot of positive things, but always the negative things come out the most' says world champion
