He Xorret de Catí will receive for the seventh time the Back to Spain in a medium mountain journey with four ascents before facing the short but hard final climb with ramps, before a descent of 3.3 kilometers to the finish line, where the leader, the Frenchman Lenny Martínez, and the American Sepp Kuss, just 8 seconds away, could be played the privilege of wearing the red jersey.
The eighth stage, with which the second third of the 78th Tour of Spain begins, will take the peloton from Denia to Xorret de Catí after 165 kilometers in which it will rise a third category port, three of second and the Xorret de Catí.
In the six previous finishes the winner has always won solobut there were no significant differences between the main contenders for the final victory either.
Until now, in Xorret de Catí only Spanish or French winners have been known since in 1998, 25 years ago, José María Jiménez won. In 2000 and 2004 Eladio Jiménez from Salamanca repeated his victory and in 2010 Gustavo César Veloso prevailed.
On the next two occasions, those who raised their arms at the finish line were French cyclists. In 2010 it was David Moncutie and in 2017the last time this scenario was reached, Julian Alaphilippe won.
We will have to see if in this 2023, Lenny Martinez (Groupama FDJ), the youngest leader in the history of the three big tours, is capable of withstanding the pressure and weight of wearing the red jersey against the attempt of Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), or the Spanish Marc Soler (UAE Emirates), as main rivals to unseat him.
8th stage: Denia – Xorret de Catí
Distance: 100 miles
Ports:
Km 28.8 Alto de Vall d’Ebo (2nd): 7.9 km at 5.7%
Km 49.4 Puerto de Tollos (3rd): 4.2 km at 5.6%
Km 81.7 Puerto de Benifallim (2nd): 8.8 km at 5.3%
Km 110.2 Puerto de la Carrasqueta (2nd): 10.9 km at 4.6% (Bonus)
Km 161.7 Xorret de Catí (1st): 3.9 km at 11.4 Max. 22%
intermediate sprint:
Departure time: 1:10 p.m.
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Check In: 17:30
intermediate average: 38 km/h