Stage 8

The road

At the start

Xorret de Catí, back after seven years

Matej Mohorič won alone in Cuenca and the classification did not move: Froome by eleven seconds from Chaves, thirteen from Roche. Warren Barguil did not start. Today finishes on Xorret de Catí, a category-one wall the Vuelta has climbed five times and not since 2010, whose ramps break a rhythm rather than test one. Three smaller climbs soften the legs beforehand.

How it was won

1. 145 km to go

   Toward Xorret de Catí

   The break sweeps through Ibi and into the finale toward the fearsome wall of Xorret de Catí.

2. 27 km to go

   Alaphilippe attacks the wall

   On the brutal ramps of Xorret de Catí, Julian Alaphilippe drops breakaway companions Polanc and Majka.

3. 34 km to go

   GC blows on the climb

   Behind, the favourites trade blows on the savage gradients, splintering the red-jersey group.

4. 4At the line

   Alaphilippe holds on

   Julian Alaphilippe survives from the break to win, Quick-Step’s third stage victory in a week.

The result