INTRO
Stage 8 covers 171 km from Puçol to Xeraco along the Valencia coast, a flat stage tailor-made for the sprinters after several tough mountain days. The only categorized climb is Barx (Cat. 2, 4.7 km at 5.6%), tucked well before the finish and unlikely to trouble the fast men. Expect a high-speed, largely uneventful day of racing until the bunch sprint in Xeraco.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The route is pancake-flat for almost its entire length, with the peloton hugging the Valencia coastline for most of the stage. The lone climb, Barx (Cat. 2, 4.7 km at 5.6%), comes with roughly 20 km still to race and features a steady, moderate gradient without any sharp ramps — a launchpad for a breakaway rather than a serious threat to the sprinters' teams. After the descent, it's flat and fast all the way to the finish in Xeraco.
Roads are wide, well-maintained coastal and inland highways typical of the Valencia region, with smooth tarmac throughout. The Barx climb runs on a quiet local road through orange groves and pine forest — good surface, minimal traffic, and clear sightlines. Parking is easy in both Puçol and Xeraco, with public lots near each town center; expect road closures near the finish line during race hours.
Nothing specialized needed here — standard road gearing is plenty for this stage. Even Barx's Cat. 2 climb is a moderate grind rather than a steep test, so a compact crank with a 28 or 30-tooth cassette is more than enough. The flat coastal miles reward aero setups and a strong group to share the workload.
Both Puçol and Xeraco are easy day trips from Valencia city, roughly 25 km and 60 km away respectively, with good rail and road connections. Valencia's airport offers the most convenient access, and riders can base themselves in the city to explore this stretch of coastline and the Barx climb inland toward the Serra Grossa mountains. Beach towns along the route offer plenty of dining and lodging options.
ROUTE MAP
