The 68th edition takes place between 16-20 February.
For the second consecutive season, the individual time trial will be absent from the course of the Vuelta a Andalucia, which will get underway with the longest stage of the edition, 201 kilometers and five classified climbs from Ubrique to Iznajar. One of the three hilly stages of next week’s race, together with the ones concluding in Alcala la Real and Baza, the opening day will lay the foundation for what promises to be an exciting GC battle. Despite favouring the climbers and the puncheurs, Ruta del Sol will give some opportunities to the sprinters as well, two to be more precise, in Otura and Chiclana de Segura.
Two Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl riders will start their season at the Spanish race: Zdenek Stybar, the only Czech rider in history to have triumphed in a cobbled Classic, and Mauri Vansevenant, one of the team’s 18 members to be victorious in a race last season. They will be accompanied by Dries Devenyns and Pieter Serry, who join the Wolfpack after a solid outing at the Tour de la Provence, but also by Mikkel Honoré, Florian Sénéchal and Jannik Steimle.
“Vuelta a Andalucia won’t be an easy race. The numerous climbs will make it hard and bring all kinds of challenges, but we are going there with a lot of motivation. We will try to be active, be it in the breakaway or in the stage finale, and if possible, try to fight for a victory”, said Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sports director Brian Holm.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
