Vuelta España Femenina - Stage 7

Published: 23 April 2024

Stage 7: San Esteban de Gormaz – Sigüenza (138.6km, hilly)

The penultimate stage of the Vuelta Femenina sees the race head further west towards the capital city of Madrid. It’s a stage of two halves, with the first 70km presenting relatively little in the way of challenges, and the second 70km presenting a trickier prospect, with most of the day’s altitude gain contained in the latter portion of the profile.

The day begins in the diminutive municipality of San Esteban de Gormaz. With its Romanesque architecture and surrounding vineyards, it will be a quaint backdrop to the beginning of an important day for the riders, as with a somewhat less daunting profile, it may be a day of consolidation for the GC riders – but it could also be a day for opportunists to make late in-roads into the overall classification.

Heading east to Almazán, the terrain only becomes somewhat lumpier once the road turns south towards the day’s final destination of Sigüenza. Here, the GC teams will need to be watchful for late escapees, as there are several short uncategorised climbs from which attacks may be launched.

After an intermediate sprint in Barahona, 40km are remaining to the finish line, and although teams with sprinters among their ranks may be tempted by the relatively flat profile, especially as it heads downhill into Sigüenza, they will need to do their homework, as the finish is not ideal for pure sprinters. The road kicks up in the final 500m, and with pitches of up to 11%, it’s definitely one for the punchier riders to contend. Whether it’s GC favourites or breakaway hopefuls going for the stage win, if it comes down to a sprint for the line it will likely be from a reduced bunch, once they arrive at the top of the slope to the finish line.

​​Words by Katy Madgwick

Major Races

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Date	Event	Class
29 Jun - 21 Jul	Tour de France	2.UWT
12 Aug - 18 Aug	Tour de France Femmes	2.WWT
4 May - 26 May	Giro d'Italia	2.UWT
28 Apr - 5 May	Vuelta España Femenina	2.WWT

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