Proycling's Analysis: If Alejandro Valverde needs a boost at the race’s mid-point then this stage into his home city should provide it. The main difficulty is the Cresta del Gallo climb 12km from the finish. It’s not long though – more the kind of climb you’d find on a one-day race that’s meat and drink to Valverde.
Culture Vulture: Twinned with Nice, Alicante now compares well to the French resort thanks to an economic boom in recent decades. With its castle sitting above a now thriving port, it’s now one of Spain’s fastest growing cities.
Local hero: Murcia has turned out a good number of top-class riders in recent seasons. As well as Valverde, his Caisse d’Epargne team-mates Francisco Pérez and Luis León Sánchez are also from the region.
Neil Stephens says: Alejandro Valverde is from this area, so the guys should enjoy this stage and be motivated. Hopefully by then the time differences will be big enough that it's a bit of a breakaway or sprinter's day. Hopefully we're in a position where we're high on general classification and we can have a bit of day off. The boys all know it and I don't think there are any secrets there.
-
How to watch gravel races around the world - A guide to livestreams and free broadcasts for the biggest events including The Traka, Unbound Gravel and more
Gravel riders Keegan Swenson, Matt Beers, Simon Pellaud face off against Luke Lamperti while former women's winners Lauren Stephens and Lauren De Crescenzo are back -
First-ever Tour de France rest day jersey designated by Visma-Lease a Bike after fan vote for special-edition design generates 100,000 responses in three days
'The Architect' design with a black background wins contest as race jersey in Grand Tour, while interest for 'light' design creates new category for kit -
Bespoked London tech gallery: Bikes with blowtorches and fire extinguishers, gold leaf and 32-inch gravel bikes
All the best tech from the show, including a 32 inch gravel bike and lots of wide tyres -
'I want to dedicate it with all my heart to the memory of our beloved compatriot Camilo Muñoz' – Nairo Quintana takes first victory in four years at the Vuelta Asturias
Colombian soloes to stage 2 win and race lead following duel with 19-year-old Adrià Pericas
