Organizers for the Vuelta a España unveiled the 2024 route at a presentation in Madrid today, which will feature nine summit finishes, just 34 kilometers of time trialling, limited opportunities for sprinters and no stages more then 200 kilometers.
The full 3,261 kilometer will begin on August 17 in Lisbon, Portugal and end on September 8 in Madrid. While the precise number of climbing meters was not revealed, the profiles of the stages look like the race will be high on climbing, but low on the high altitude ascents.
Additionally, the course offers a few Vuelta staples, like the Lagos de Covadonga, which is historically the most used climb in the Vuelta. Once again, the Spanish Grand Tour is opting for an unconventional selection of stages, with only one stage listed as having a flat parcours. The rest range from hilly, to medium mountains and finally to the major mountains that will define the GC fight of the race.
Stage 4 will bring the race into Spain and feature a first summit finish on the Pico de Villuercas ascent, last included in the route in 2021
Riders will then head south towards Seville before the first week concludes with a mountain stage between Motril and Granada where the Vuelta will take on two category one climbs.
Stage 10 is another in the mountains that kicks off in Ponteaereas and finishes 160km later in Baiona, while the next two stages will offer some respite before another category one climb for stage 13
Stage 14 will be familiar to avid cycling fans. The final climb of Ancares is where Chris Froome and Alberto Contador battled it out in 2014 and where Purito Rodriguez prevailed in 2012.
The slopes of Cuitu Negru will be the conclusion for stage 15 and the second week in the mountains before the well-known ascent up Lagos de Covadonga will test riders to the limit at the end of the 181km of stage 16.
The mid-mountain stages 17 and 18 follow, while Alto de Moncalvillo returns to the route for stage 19.
Stage 20 is the final mountain stage and will take place over 188km before finishing on the Picon Blanco slopes. It could also be the last big chance for riders to make their mark on the race before the transfer to the Spanish capital for the grand finale.
For one rider, the 22 kilometer dash through the streets of Madrid will act as a victory lap but it could also be the scene for a highly dramatic finish that will be a break from the traditional procession to the line.
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