Unusual Start in Italy
The 80th edition of the Vuelta a España begins on August 23rd in Turin, Italy, with an unprecedented opening stage: a 186.1 km road race from Turin to Novara. This marks only the second time in history that the Vuelta has started outside of Spain, with a favorable layout for sprinters. The third-category Serra climb at kilometer 70 will award the first mountain jersey, but it’s unlikely to disrupt plans for a likely mass sprint.
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin) is the leading favorite to wear the leader’s red jersey on the opening day. The Belgian rider returns to the Vuelta after four years, aiming to secure victories and recover from his crash that forced him to abandon the Tour de France in July. Other contenders include Mads Pedersen, Elia Viviani, and Bryan Coquard, with young talents like Ethan Vernon also potentially causing an upset.
Favorites for the Title
The absence of Tadej Pogacar and reigning champion Primoz Roglic opens the door to a wide range of contenders for the podium.
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) arrives as the top favorite, having finished second in the recent Tour de France. His experience with mountainous stages and prior participation in the Vuelta position him as a clear frontrunner.
Juan Ayuso and João Almeida (UAE Emirates) will engage in an internal battle. Ayuso seeks to establish himself as Spain’s leading rider, while Almeida, coming off a strong season, may assert his own prominence.
Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) continues to make progress in his comeback. The 2019 Tour de France champion and 2021 Giro d’Italia winner aims to complete the cycling “Grand Slam” by winning the Vuelta.
Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) will attempt to bring the Vuelta title back to Italy, nearly 70 years after Angelo Conterno’s triumph. His mountain-climbing prowess makes him a serious contender.
Crucial Stages Shaping the Race
The 2025 Vuelta will feature several decisive stages:
- Stage 6: Olot–Pal Andorra (170.3 km) – First serious encounter with high mountains.
- Stage 7: Andorra La Vella–Cerler (188 km) – A series of climbs testing riders’ endurance.
- Stage 13: Cabezón de la Sal–L’Angliru (202.7 km) – The longest stage of the edition, ending on the feared Angliru.
- Stage 14: Avilés–La Farrapona (135.9 km) – Asturian terrain with a climb to the finish.
- Stage 18: Valladolid–Valladolid (27.2 km, CRI) – Last chance for time-trial specialists.
- Stage 20: Robledo de Chavela–Bola del Mundo (165.6 km) – Guadarrama’s mountains will once again decide the fate before the Madrid finale.
A Course for Climbers
With ten summit finishes, two time trials, and marathon stages like the Angliru, the route favors climbers. The tension will be guaranteed until the penultimate stage, with Bola del Mundo as the decisive stage to crown the new Vuelta champion.
The 2025 Vuelta a España Route
The Vuelta a España 2025 will commence on August 23rd in Turin, Italy, and conclude on September 14th in Madrid after covering a total distance of 3,151 km.
Here are the stages for the 80th Vuelta a España:
- August 23 – Stage 1: Turin-Novara, 186.1 km
- August 24 – Stage 2: Alba-Limone Piemonte, 159.6 km
- August 25 – Stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese-Ceres, 134.6 km
- August 26 – Stage 4: Susa-Voiron, 206.7 km
- August 27 – Stage 5: Figueres-Figueres, 24.1 km (Team Time Trial)
- August 28 – Stage 6: Olot-Pal Andorra, 170.3 km
- August 29 – Stage 7: Andorra La Vella-Cerler, 188 km
- August 30 – Stage 8: Monzón Templario-Zaragoza, 163.5 km
- August 31 – Stage 9: Alfaro-Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray, 195.5 km
- September 1 – Rest Day: Pamplona
- September 2 – Stage 10: Parque de la naturaleza Sendaviva-El Ferial Larra Belagua, 175.3 km
- September 3 – Stage 11: Bilbao-Bilbao, 157.4 km
- September 4 – Stage 12: Laredo-Los corrales del Buelna, 144.9 km
- September 5 – Stage 13: Cabezón de la Sal-L’Angliru, 202.7 km
- September 6 – Stage 14: Avilés-Alto de la Farrapona, 135.9 km
- September 7 – Stage 15: A Veiga Vegadeo-Monforte de Lemos, 167.8 km
- September 8 – Rest Day: Pontevedra
- September 9 – Stage 16: Poio-Mos. Castro e Herville, 167.9 km
- September 10 – Stage 17: O Barco de Valdeorras-Alto del Morredero, 143.2 km
- September 11 – Stage 18: Valladolid-Valladolid, 27.2 km (Individual Time Trial)
- September 12 – Stage 19: Rueda-Guijuelo, 161.9 km
- September 13 – Stage 20: Robledo de Chavela-Bola del Mundo, 165.6 km
- September 14 – Stage 21: Alalpardo-Madrid, 111.6 km
Recent Vuelta a España Winners
The last ten winners of the Vuelta a España are:
- 2024: Primoz Roglic (SLO)
- 2023: Sepp Kuss (USA)
- 2022: Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
- 2021: Primoz Roglic (SLO)
- 2020: Primoz Roglic (SLO)
- 2019: Primoz Roglic (SLO)
- 2018: Simon Yates (GBR)
- 2017: Chris Froome (GBR)
- 2016: Nairo Quintana (COL)
- 2015: Fabio Aru (ITA)
Riders with the most Vuelta titles:
- 4 victories: Roberto Heras (ESP) – 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005; Primoz Roglic (SLO) – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
- 3 victories: Tony Rominger (SUI) – 1992, 1993, 1994; Alberto Contador (ESP) – 2008, 2012, 2014
