Vuelta a España 2023: Route, favorites and profile of the stages

Today is a great day for cycling fans, as the Vuelta a España 2023 will take place today.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
25 August 2023 Friday 10:39
6 Reads
Vuelta a España 2023: Route, favorites and profile of the stages

Today is a great day for cycling fans, as the Vuelta a España 2023 will take place today. With a challenging and varied route, this edition promises to be a true elite cycling spectacle. With an all-star cast that includes the best cyclists in the world, this edition of the Vuelta a España is ready to captivate spectators from August 26 to September 17, covering 3,153.8 kilometers over 21 stages. .

Team time trial of 14.6 km in the city of Barcelona, ​​standing out for its technical complexity and the urban jewels of the route.

Medium mountain stage that includes ascents such as Coll de Sant Bartomeu and Castell de Montjuïc, promising an unpredictable finish.

Arrival in Andorra with ascents to Coll d'Ordino and the Arinsal station, where they will face percentages of up to 13%.

Stage for sprinters with minor ascents, which culminates in Tarragona after crossing the mountains.

A flat day with a single ascent in the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park, designed for sprinters.

Hot stage with ascents to Puerto de Arenillas and Alto Fuente de Rubielos, ending in Javalambre.

Completely flat day in the Valencian Community, propitious for a massive sprint in Oliva.

Intense stage with multiple climbs, highlighting the Xorret de Catí and other challenging climbs.

Stage dreamed of by Alejandro Valverde, with ascents to Alto de la Perdiz and final in Caravaca de la Cruz.

The only 25 km individual time trial in Valladolid, with technical and open sections.

One-port stage ending in the Laguna Negra de Vinuesa, conducive to attacks and fights for seconds.

Sprint stage in Zaragoza, paying special attention to the wind and the fans.

Queen stage with more than 4,000 m of unevenness, passing through passes such as Col de l'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet.

Mountain stage with the Port of Belagua and the Port of Larrau, ending in Belagua.

Classic stage with ascents to the Port of Lizarraga and a double ascent to Zuarrarrate, ending in Lekunberri.

Short and nervous stage in Cantabria, ending at the wall of Bejes with ramps of up to 14%.

Short and explosive stage with ascents to Alto de la Colladiella and Alto del Cordal, culminating in the feared Angliru.

High mountain stage with multiple ascents, ending in Alto de Tenebredo and Cruz de Linares.

Stage for sprinters on the Castilian-Leonese plateau, with possible influence of the wind and fans.

Long stage with a chain of ascents on the plateau, accumulating more than 4,000 m of unevenness.

Celebration stage in Madrid, with a tour through the streets of the capital and final sprint.

Jonas Vingegaard has just made his mark in Tour de France history by winning his second consecutive yellow jersey. His presence in the peloton is already synonymous with excellence, backed by his prowess both in the mountains and against the clock.

This Vuelta a España seems to suit him, with 10 mountain stages that align with his climbing skills. Vingegaard shapes up on these challenging climbs, while his impressive 1:38 lead over Tadej Pogacar in a 22.4km time trial during the Tour de France demonstrates his ability to dominate against the clock as well. These achievements point to a promising future as an exceptional lap rider.

At just 23 years old, Remco Evenepoel is already a world road and time trial champion, as well as winning La Vuelta a España (2022). His aggressive style has compared him to legends like Meckx. Despite his positive for Covid-19 in the 2023 Giro, he achieved victories in classics and the youngest world time trial title. Although the mountains of the Vuelta 2023 are not his strong point, he has a solid team by his side, unlike other teams like Jumbo.

In the golden age of cycling, figures like Primoz Roglic have left their mark. Breaking the mold, his racing style has influenced others. A lap specialist, he has won the Tour of the Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie, the Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta a Catalunya, as well as this year's Giro d'Italia. Although his legacy is associated with the Tour of Spain.

Between 2019 and 2021, Roglic dominated the Vuelta, but a crash sidelined him in 2022. He can still match Roberto Heras' Vuelta record, although Vingegaard, if he supports or competes, could change the landscape.

From projection to reality, Juan Ayuso emerges. He achieved third place in his debut in La Vuelta a España 2022. Now, he leads the UAE team after overcoming an injury. Joao Almeida supports him, being his teammate and letter for the general classification.

In 2018, Geraint Thomas surprised by winning the Tour de France, despite being seen as a second-in-command on Team Sky, under the shadow of Chris Froome. Since then, he has maintained the prominence of it. At 37, he came close to winning the Giro d'Italia this year, though he lost the lead on the penultimate stage. Now, he seeks to make up for it in the Vuelta a España, where he will once again face Roglic, his rival.

In his career, Enric Mas has faced more criticism than praise, despite his notable second-place finishes in La Vuelta. Although 2023 has been difficult, his track record demonstrates his potential in mountainous terrain. Despite previous challenges, his performance in the Vuelta is a sign of hope.