One of the very few pure sprinters' days in this Vuelta, run down the Valencian coast. A single obstacle interrupts it, a 10 km rise at just over 3% cresting with around 25 km to go, which is the sort of climb a strong sprinter survives and a lighter rider tries to exploit. After it the road returns to sea level for a flat finish at Xeraco. Given how little flat terrain the route offers, the fast men's teams will be determined not to let this one slip away, and a bunch sprint is the likely outcome. Heat and the coastal wind are the variables.