The "Vuelta a España," often simply referred to as "La Vuelta," is a prestigious professional road cycling race that takes place annually in Spain. It is one of the three Grand Tours in cycling, alongside the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.
Today will start the three-week race is the most prestigious race in Spain and is now in its 78th edition. This year's edition will also be recognized for its distinctiveness: the mountains. With seven mountain stages, six hilly stages, two flat stages with uphill finishes, four flat stages and two time trials, this year’s route is definitely is definitely designed for climbers.
The Vuelta a España was first organized in 1935 and has since become a prominent event in the cycling calendar. The race features a variety of stages, including flat stages for sprinters, mountain stages for climbers, and time trials for all-around cyclists. The route changes from year to year, showcasing different regions of Spain and presenting new challenges to the riders.
The Vuelta is known for its challenging terrain, including steep mountain climbs in the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada, which often play a decisive role in determining the overall winner. Riders compete for the coveted Red Jersey, which is awarded to the leader of the general classification. There are also other jersey classifications, such as the Green Jersey for the points classification and the Polka Dot Jersey for the King of the Mountains classification.
Over the years, many cycling legends have won the Vuelta a España, including Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, and Primož Roglič, among others.
Who is going to be the winner this year?