The Vuelta a España returns this Saturday to the Valencian roads. After the mountainous days of the last few days, the eighth stage offers a route of 171 kilometers between Puçol and Xeraco that, on paper, opens up an opportunity for the sprinters again.
The neutralized start is scheduled for 1:42 PM in Puçol, while the finish line will be located on the Borrons avenue of the beach of Xeraco. The official forecast establishes three scenarios depending on the average speed of the riders and places the arrival between 5:20 PM and 5:40 PM.
The stage will cross a good part of the province from north to south and will require temporary traffic cuts on the roads and streets through which the peloton circulates, so drivers should exercise special caution throughout the afternoon.
Route of La Vuelta today through Valencia
After leaving Puçol, the peloton will take the CV-300 heading towards La Pobla de Farnals and Massamagrell. It will then cross Albalat dels Sorells, Foios, Meliana, Vinalesa, Alfara del Patriarca, and Moncada before heading inland.
The race will continue through Náquera, Bétera, San Antonio de Benagéber, l'Eliana, Riba-roja de Túria, Vilamarxant, and Cheste. From there it will advance towards Montserrat, Montroi, Real, Catadau, and Carlet, before seeking Algemesí and Alzira.
The last kilometers will concentrate the main sporting difficulty. From La Barraca d'Aigües Vives, the riders will head towards Simat de la Valldigna before facing the Barx port, the only significant scoring climb of the day. After that, there will be the descent through Barx and La Drova, the incorporation to the N-332 and the final stretch to Xeraco.
The organization considers this day as the last great opportunity for the sprinters during the first week of La Vuelta, although they must overcome Barx without losing contact with the main group.
Roads closed by La Vuelta this Saturday
The passage of the race implies temporary restrictions throughout the route. The closures do not affect the entire day for the 171 kilometers, but are applied according to the progress of the caravan and the peloton.
Among the points and roads that drivers should pay special attention to are:
- CV-300, on the exit from Puçol towards l'Horta Nord.
- Streets and accesses of Meliana, Moncada, Bétera, Riba-roja, Cheste, Montserrat, Carlet, Algemesí, and Alzira included in the itinerary.
- Section between Simat de la Valldigna and Barx, used to tackle the port.
- Descent from Barx and La Drova to the coast.
- N-332, to which the peloton will join during the final section before entering Xeraco.
- Accesses and streets of Xeraco and its beach, especially the finish area.
Additionally, this Saturday coincides with the return operation of August, which anticipates millions of road trips throughout Spain, so the restrictions of La Vuelta may increase traffic complications at certain points in the province.
The last kilometer of Xeraco, closed from 15:00 hours
The greatest restrictions are concentrated in the arrival area. The City Council of Xeraco has established that the last kilometer of the stage will be closed to traffic from 15:00 hours.
The finish line is located on the Borrons avenue of the beach of Xeraco. To reduce access problems, the council has enabled an alternative entrance through the area of the Tavernes canal and has prepared extraordinary parking for spectators traveling to the municipality.
Municipal authorities recommend arriving well in advance and respecting the instructions of the Local Police, Civil Protection, the Municipal Brigade, and the volunteers deployed in the area.
What time La Vuelta passes through each area
The times depend on the speed of the peloton. According to the official itinerary, the runners should reach Cheste between 15:02 and 15:09 hours, pass through Carlet approximately between 15:49 and 16:01 and arrive at Alzira between 16:13 and 16:27 hours.
Already in the decisive section, the forecast places the passage through Simat de la Valldigna between 16:35 and 16:51 hours, the coronation of Barx approximately between 16:47 and 17:04, and the entry into Xeraco between 17:13 and 17:33 hours.
Arrival time of La Vuelta in Xeraco
The main reference for those who want to see the finish is 17:20 hours, which corresponds to the fastest scenario calculated by the organization.
If the pace is slower, the arrival may be delayed until approximately 17:30 or 17:40 hours. La Vuelta recommends considering that the times are estimates and may vary according to the development of the race.
The stage will end like this on the beach of Xeraco after covering 171 kilometers and crossing around twenty Valencian municipalities, with the port of Barx as the last obstacle before a finish that, if the sprinters manage to overcome the climb, is set to be resolved in a sprint.