Vuelta 2017 Route stage 8: Hellín

Vuelta 2017 Route stage 8: Hellín - Xorret Del Catí

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Saturday, 26 August 2017 - In stage 8 of the Vuelta a España the riders travel from Hellín to Xorret del Catí. The route amounts to 199.5 kilometres, while the finish is challenging. Following a punchy 5 kilometres climb with steepest ramps of up to 18% the riders plunge down a short and sharp descent to the slightly sloping last kilometre.

Hellín was finish to stage 12 in the 2007 Vuelta a España with Alessandro Petacchi sprinting to victory. Today, it’s highly unlikely that we will see a bunch sprint.

After leaving Hellín a rolling section of 105 kilometres runs to the base of the first climb. At 6.1 kilometres, Puerto de Biar is averaging 4.2%. Following a short descent the Puerto de Onil brings 7 kilometres at 4.2% to the table. The top is crested at kilometre 127.5.

Undulating roads and an unranked climb take the riders to the Alto Xorret de Catí, which is a 5 kilometres torture at 9%. The first 2 kilometres are doable, but then the double grades kick in before the climb flattens out to 7.8% just before the summit. The steepest stretch on the Xorret de Catí is 18%. A steep 2 kilometres descent leads to a slightly uphill final kilometre.

Edition 2017 of the Vuelta sees its fifth finish on Xorret del Catí. In 1998 the now deceased climbing legend José María Jiménez took the win. In 2000 and 2004 Eladio Jiménez (no family) climbed to victory, while Gustavo César did so in 2009. The last time Xorret del Catí hosted the Vuelta was in 2010 with David Moncoutie taking the flowers.

The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprint (at kilometre 159.5) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.