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It’s time for the third and last Grand Tour of the season: La Vuelta a España. The 77th version of the Spanish Grand Tour is shaping as much as be a captivating and hotly contested version, however we aren’t speaking in regards to the riders immediately (observe the hyperlink for our contenders preview). On this preview we’re diving deep on every thing you have to know in regards to the course.
For the primary time since 2017, this 12 months’s Vuelta will begin away from Spanish soil. The kicks off in Utrecht, the Netherlands, which was presupposed to host the beginning again in 2020 earlier than COVID swept the world. In internet hosting the beginning of the Vuelta in 2022, Utrecht turns into the primary metropolis to host the beginning of all three Grand Excursions.
After three days within the Netherlands, the riders will take a relaxation/journey day to make their method to the north of Spain for the remaining six phases of the opening ‘week’.
There’s one other lengthy switch after stage 9 because the riders head method right down to Alicante within the south east of the nation. Over the following week they’ll skirt alongside Spain’s southern reaches, earlier than a last week that sees the riders head from the nation’s south-west as much as Madrid for the ultimate stage.
In all, the riders of the 2022 Vuelta will cowl a complete of three,280 km. And as you may see from the map beneath, it’s a race with loads of lengthy transfers, not simply on relaxation days however between phases as nicely.
Head on down for a stage-by-stage breakdown of the 2022 Vuelta a España route.
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Stage 1: Friday August 19 – Utrecht TTT (23.3 km)
For the primary time since 2019 the Vuelta will begin with a workforce time trial. Within the phrases of the Vuelta’s technical director Fernando Escartín, the TTT course options “huge avenues, with out technical difficulties.” It’s additionally the flattest bike race you might presumably think about. We aren’t more likely to see large gaps between the highest GC contenders right here.
Who’s it for: The groups with a bunch of sturdy time trialists, particularly these groups who make investments closely in TT efficiency. Look to Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers particularly.
![](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stage1.jpeg?width=730)
Stage 2: Saturday August 20 – ‘s-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht (175.1 km)
The second day within the Netherlands is the race’s first street stage. Beginning within the city the place the nice Marianne Vos was born, it is a largely flat day with only a single Cat 4 climb to resolve the primary KOM chief.
This will probably be a dash end, however Escartín raises a tantalising prospect in his preview of the stage: “the proximity to the ocean might provoke sturdy winds and add to the stage’s unpredictability.” Sounds nice!
Who’s it for: The sprinters.
![](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stage2.jpeg?width=730)
Stage 3: Sunday August 21 – Breda to Breda (193.5 km)
The Vuelta’s Dutch go to ends with one other stage for the sprinters. You already know it’s a flat day when the stage’s solely climb is a Cat 4 and it’s very practically the best level of the day at 25 metres above sea degree.
Who’s it for: The sprinters once more.
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Stage 4: Tuesday August 23 – Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia (152.5 km)
After a journey day from the Netherlands to northern Spain, the riders encounter their first actual lumps of this 12 months’s race. There’s a Cat 2 climb early, then a Cat 3 that’s 7.3 km lengthy (4.8% common gradient) and that peaks 15 km from the end.
This stage might nicely finish in a bunch dash too – or extra seemingly, a lowered bunch dash – however that late climb does appear to be it could possibly be an honest launch pad. On the very least, it will likely be the place the extra resilient fastmen will probably be seeking to offload the pure sprinters.
So as to add additional intrigue to the stage, there could possibly be wind within the closing kilometres into Laguardia. Plus, the previous few kilometres are barely uphill, together with a steep kick with 500 metres to go. In brief, it could possibly be an intriguing stage!
Who’s it for: Most likely the sprinters who additionally climb nicely, or the Classics-y puncheur varieties. A bit of laborious to foretell!
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Stage 5: Wednesday August 24 – Irun to Bilbao (187.2 km)
A tough medium mountain stage within the Basque Nation that includes a complete of 5 climbs. Two of these climbs are the second-category Alto del Vivero which the riders will crest with 43 km and 14 km to go. At 4.6 km lengthy and a mean of 8% it is a punchy climb that might supply the proper alternative for a late transfer.
Who’s it for: This one feels prefer it could possibly be a day for the breakaway. Search for somebody to assault late from that break.
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Stage 6: Thursday August 25 – Bilbao to Ascensión al Pico Jano (181.2 km)
The primary correct uphill end of this 12 months’s Vuelta. There’s a Cat 2 and a Cat 1 earlier than the riders attain the ultimate ascent which is itself 12.6 km at 6.6% all the best way to the road at Pico Jano.
Who’s it for: Escartín reckons it’s a day for the breakaway and that looks like a fairly good shout. Nonetheless, it will give us the primary indication of who among the many GC contenders is climbing nicely.
![](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stage6.jpeg?width=730)
Stage 7: Friday August 26 – Camargo to Cistierna (190 km)
The course profile for this one is a little bit peculiar. The riders begins out within the lowlands close to the Cantabrian coast earlier than tackling a protracted climb into the hills midway by the stage.
That climb is listed within the roadbook as 22.4 km at 5.5% however as you may see from the profile, the street truly developments upwards for greater than 50 km in the course of the stage. From the highest of that climb the route is downhill and flat into the end in Cistierna.
Who’s it for: Most likely the breakaway.
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Stage 8: Saturday August 27 – Pola de Laviana to Colláu Fancuaya (153.4 km)
A troublesome day within the Asturias mountains with six climbs, together with one proper out of the beginning and a giant one to complete with.
That final ascent is 10.1 km at 8.5%, together with a number of steep ramps of 17% close to the tip. Ouch.
Who’s it for: That is a type of days that could possibly be for the breakaway or for the general contenders, relying on how the highest groups resolve to race it. Both method, it will form the GC not directly.
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Stage 9: Sunday August 28 – Villaviciosa to Les Praeres. Nava (171.4 km)
In Escartín’s phrases, that is an “extraordinarily powerful stage to conclude the primary week of racing”.
There are 4 climbs all through the stage, earlier than the riders attain the brutal Nava climb to finish the stage. This steep ramp is barely 3.9 km lengthy, however with a mean gradient of 12.9%, it’s a torrid method to finish the day.
Final time the race visited this climb, in 2018, Simon Yates took the stage on his method to total victory.
Who’s it for: Most likely one other day for the GC males, like 4 years in the past. Large gaps are attainable on this last climb for riders that crack.
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Stage 10: Tuesday August 30 – Elche to Alicante ITT (30.9 km)
The race’s sole particular person time trial is “fully flat” and shouldn’t present any actual difficulties for the GC contenders. In line with Escartín, “different riders with a extra pronounced climber profile might battle.”
There are only some corners on the complete route so this gained’t be terribly technical. That stated, the ultimate part tracks alongside the Levante shoreline “the place sturdy winds could also be problematic.” Sounds intriguing.
Who’s it for: The TT specialists, together with the extra highly effective GC contenders. The flyweight climbers gained’t take pleasure in this one, notably if the wind does whip up.
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Stage 11: Wednesday August 31 – Elpozo Alimentación to Cabo de Gata (191.2 km)
This ought to be a day for the sprinters. Word although that many of the final 110 km runs alongside the Alboran coast which might open the door for some late crosswind motion. We are able to solely hope.
Who’s it for: The sprinters.
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Stage 12: Thursday September 1 – Salobreña to Peñas Blancas. Estepona (192.7 km)
On stage 12 the riders will cross the province of Malaga from one finish to the opposite in what’s an virtually solely flat day … till the ultimate climb. The Peñas Blancas ascent is nineteen km lengthy (6.7% common) and “a really powerful finale that will make vital modifications to the final classification.”
Who’s it for: Most likely the GC contenders, until they actually need the break to have it.
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Stage 13: Friday September 2 – Ronda to Montilla (168.4 km)
There are just a few lumps all through the day however nothing categorised and nothing that can cease this ending in a bunch kick in Montilla. The street is barely uphill for the ultimate 1 km however it will nonetheless be a bunch gallop.
Who’s it for: The fastmen.
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Stage 14: Saturday September 3 – Montoro to Sierra de La Pandera (160.3 km)
This Andalucian stage begins out simply sufficient, however issues get gnarly within the again half. There’s a Cat 3 climb as a teaser, about midway by the stage, after which it’s into back-to-back climbs to finish the stage.
The Cat 2 Puerto de Los Villares is 10.4 km at 5.5% after which, with solely a brief second of respite, it’s into the Cat 1 Sierra de la Pandera climb which is 8.4 km at 7.8% with a number of ramps of 15%. Powerful day!
Who’s it for: Appears like a stage for the GC males to duke it out for stage honours.
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Stage 15: Sunday September 4 – Martos to Alto Hoya de la Mora (152.6 km)
A day that features greater than 4,000 metres of climbing into the Sierra Nevada mountain vary. The day begins out within the province of Jaén “the place the warmth will undoubtedly play an vital function”, after which it’s climbing time.
There’s an early Cat 3, then the Cat 1 Alto del Purche (9.1 km at 7.6%), and at last the “particular class” climb to Alto Hoya de la Mora: 19.3 km at 7.9% common, with the primary few kilometres averaging nicely over 10%. Word that the end line is at 2,512 metres above sea degree – not insignificant altitude.
It is a tremendous powerful day to guide the riders within the last relaxation day.
Who’s it for: Arduous to say whether or not the winner will come from the break or the GC group, however both method, the GC will change on this stage. Riders who grew up at altitude would possibly fancy this one.
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Stage 16: Tuesday September 6 – Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares (189.4 km)
The riders come again from their last relaxation day to what will probably be a tremendously appreciated straightforward day. There are just a few small lumps within the last kilometres however it will finish in a bunch dash.
Who’s it for: The sprinters, in what will probably be their last likelihood of victory earlier than the ultimate stage in Madrid.
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Stage 17: Wednesday September 7 – Aracena to Monasterio de Tentudía (162.3 km)
A day of fixed ups and downs within the Extremadura area that Escartín describes as “a golden alternative for a breakaway”.
The day’s solely climb is the stage-ending Cat 2 ascent to the Monasterio de Tentudía which spans 10.3 km with a mean grade of 5%. It’s “not excessively tough” and is unlikely to create many massive variations between the GC favourites. Then once more, if somebody’s on a nasty day, a ten km climb can nonetheless be problematic.
Who’s it for: Seemingly the breakaway.
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Stage 18: Thursday September 8 – Trujillo to Alto de Piornal (192 km)
On stage 18, one other day in Extremadura, the riders will climb the Alto de Piornal from three completely different sides. These climbs are a Cat 2, then two Cat 1 ascents, the final of which concludes on the end line.
That final ascent is 13.5 km at 5% which, relying on the way it’s raced, could possibly be one other alternative for the GC males.
Who’s it for: May go both method. Maybe one for the breakaway, but when the GC males fancy it, one of many total contenders might take stage honours.
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Stage 19: Friday September 9 – Talavera de la Reina to Talavera de la Reina (138.3 km)
A brief however powerful stage that consists of two laps of a giant circuit. That circuit consists of the Puerto de la Piélago climb (9.3 km at 5.6%) so the riders will get to deal with that twice.
The climbing is a good distance from the end although – the ultimate ascent peaks 42 km from the road – so it may not be all that decisive.
Who’s it for: Looks like a day for the breakaway, but when the peloton agrees to a cruisier day, it is perhaps {that a} decent-sized group makes it to the end for a reduced-bunch kick.
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Stage 20: Saturday September 10 – Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada (181 km)
The penultimate stage of this 12 months’s Vuelta and the ultimate day within the mountains. There are 5 climbs on the menu by the Guadarrama mountain vary, particularly three Cat 1s and two Cat 2s.
The ultimate of these climbs is 10.3 km at 6.9% and peaks 7 km from the end line, earlier than a flat run-in to Puerto de Navacerrada. It is a powerful day, nearly all of which is raced above 1,000 metres. And with this being the final likelihood for the climbers, anticipate fireworks on the final climb.
Who’s it for: The GC males.
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Stage 21: Sunday September 11 – Las Rozas to Madrid (96.7 km)
The stage is brief, the route is flat, and the Vuelta will have already got been determined. This will probably be a largely processional last stage into Madrid which can begin simply then ramp up forward of a bunch kick.
Who’s it for: The sprinters.
![](https://velo-cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stage21.jpeg?width=730)
Phases to look at
If you happen to aren’t able to look at each stage of this 12 months’s Vuelta, however you continue to wish to know the important thing phases to tune in for, we’ve bought you coated. Listed here are the day that we predict will take advantage of distinction on GC.
Stage 6: The primary correct uphill end.
Stage 8: A troublesome day in Asturias with a summit end.
Stage 9: A brief however very steep climb ends a tricky day.
Stage 12: One other uphill end.
Stage 14: A variety of climbing in direction of the tip.
Stage 15: An excellent laborious day with a really tough last climb.
Stage 18: Three climbs to complete with.
Stage 20: The ultimate day within the mountains.
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