Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 8: Strong descenders after punchy last climb

Stage 8 in the Vuelta is tailor made for strong punchers with good descending skills. The race runs to the Xorret del Catí, which is a double digit climb of 5 kilometres that continues onto a sharp and short drop to the finish line. Who are the major contenders to win the race? (Slideshow route/profile)

In the 8th stage of the Vuelta a España the riders race on a hilly course to a promising finale on the Xorret del Catí. First a punchy 5 kilometres climb with steepest ramps of 18% and then they plunge down a short and sharp descent to a final kilometre of about 4%.

The big question is, will the winner of the stage be an early attacker or is the peloton going to reel them in in time? On this route it can go either way. Lots of rolling roads and some tougher obstacles halfway. Puerto de Biar and Puerto de Onil are the biggest hurdles, but the deciding factor lies at the end of today’s road: Xorret del Catí.

Favourites 8th stage 2017 Vuelta

*** Romain Bardet, Adam Yates, Julian Alaphilippe, Alexandre Geniez
** Fabio Aru, Wout Poels, Esteban Chaves, Domenico Pozzovivo, Przemysław Niemiec
* Rui Costa, Vincenzo Nibali, Diego Rosa, Michael Woods, Simon Yates