The 78th edition of the season’s last Grand Tour will favour the climbers.
Four months after Remco Evenepoel was crowned winner of the Vuelta a España, breaking several records and writing history for both the Wolfpack and Belgium in the process, the organisers of the Spanish Grand Tour released the route of this year. Starting in Barcelona and finishing in Madrid, the race will put on the table ten uphill finishes, including two of cycling’s hardest ascents, Tourmalet and Angliru.
These won’t be the only difficulties of the three weeks, Arinsal, Xorret de Cati, Javalambre, Larra-Belagua and Bejes promising to seriously test the red jersey contenders. With only 25 kilometers of individual time trial, in addition to the 14km opening TTT in Catalunya, the parcours will be heavily tilted towards the climbers.
Vuelta a España will take place between 26 August and 17 September, and our team – winner of more than 30 stages at the previous participations – will be among the twenty-two squads present in Barcelona, which will host the start for just the second time in history.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
