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.
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