The Vuelta a España's stage 8 is the final opportunity for sprinters during the first week of the race, but they will have to overcome the second-category climb of Barx with 27.4 kilometres to go.
So far, Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) has taken two stage wins so far on the somewhat flatter stages into Manosque and Roquetes. Terres de l'Ebre. This could be another opportunity for Brennan to make it a hat trick of wins at the Vuelta.
The stage begins in Puçol, north of Valencia, and heads south through the Valencian hinterland on twisty roads. The intermediate sprint at Simat de Valdigna, 137.4km into the stage, leads to the only climb of the day, Barx (4.7km at 5.6%), which features a series of hairpins with sweeping views of the valley and the Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna below.
A fast descent leads to the finish line at the foot of the beach in Xeraco.
- Stage 8: Puçol - Xeraco
- Date: August 29, 2026
- Distance: 171km
- Elevation gain: 1,280m
- Start time: 13:42 CET
- Finish time: 17:20 CET
Stage details
Climbs
- Barx (cat. 2, 4.7km at 5.6%), km. 143.6
Sprints
- Simat de Valdigna, km. 137.4
