Organizers for the Vuelta a España have unveiled the 2025 route that will kick off in Piemonte in Italy on August 23 and finish in Madrid on September 14, comprising 21 stages that will take riders across 3,138 kilometers of racing.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Vuelta. To mark the occasion, race organizers decided to revive some of the most historic climbs that have punctuated the history of the Spanish Grand Tour over the last nine decades.
The Angliru, an indisputable symbol of the modern-day Vuelta, was an obvious choice to include. This Asturian colossus has been climbed nine times since 1999. It was the scene of two memorable victories for Alberto Contador, in 2008 and on the eve of his retirement in 2017.
The first of the top ten ascents will be brand new to the race, as La Vuelta will visit Italy for the first time.
Additionally, the Vuelta has not returned to Pal (Andorra) since Igor Antón’s victory in 2010; to Cerler since 2007, despite being one of the most frequent mountain finals in history (11 times); to Valdezcaray since the Australian Simon Clarke, still active, began his conquest of the Maillot de la Montaña in 2012; to Larra Belagua since Remco Evenepoel vindicated himself after losing ground in the Tourmalet in 2023; and at Alto de el Morredero since Alejandro Valverde won there in 2006.
The course will also give between four and six opportunities for sprinters, including the one that will decide the first carrier of the red jersey in Novara. Moreover, there will be two-time trials during this year’s course, one for teams (20 km, stage 5) in Figueres, northern Catalonia, marking the start of the race on Iberian soil, and one individual (25 km, stage 18) in Valladolid.
The fate of next year’s La Vuelta could also be decided in mid-mountain stages: in Bilbao (stage 11) with the climb to Pike and a double ascent to El Vivero, and the next day with the Collada de Brenes, a first-class port 23 km from the finish line in Los Corrales de Buelna.
The final stage will be celebrated at the Venaria Reale, one of the largest royal residences in the world dating back to the 17th century. The place is well known to cyclists as the Giro d’Italia started from there on two occasions (2011 and 2024).
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