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2025 Vuelta a España course: A climber’s feast... and an open invitation to Pogacar

Cycling
by Hendrik Boermans
Thursday, 19 December 2024 at 21:01
tadej pogacar
At last, the route for the Vuelta a España has been finalized. Unsurprisingly, the 2025 edition will once again be one for the climbers. The start is in Italy, as was recently announced. Afterward, the Spanish circus moves to its home territory, where the organizers have once again opted for a large number of (familiar) climbs, including the return of the Angliru and Bola del Mundo. The Vuelta will again finish in Madrid. Nearly the entire edition takes place in the northern part of Spain. The organization is calling it a historic edition, as the Vuelta will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2025.
For the second year in a row, the Vuelta will start outside Spain. The opening weekend offers a bit of everything. There is a flat finish in Novara, followed by a second day with significant climbing, ending at Limone Piemonte, which will create the first real selection. Day three concludes with an uphill finish and includes some elevation mid-stage. Strong sprinters can win here, but adventurers and riders targeting the early leader's jersey will also have opportunities.
On day four, the peloton heads toward France through the mountains, meaning that day four will feature significant climbing, including several classic climbs such as Montgenèvre and Col du Lautaret. Afterward, the peloton flies toward Spain, arriving in Figueres, for a 20-kilometer team time trial — an interesting checkpoint for the GC contenders. Then we go back to climbing, with a summit finish at Pal in Andorra, a category-one climb. There will be little time for recovery, as stage seven also ends with a summit finish at Cerler. Stage eight offers opportunities for the sprinters. The ski station at Valdezcaray marks the end of the first week.
After a grueling first week, a well-deserved rest day follows. Week two begins, as expected, with another summit finish. Stage eleven is a day for all-rounders, around Bilbao, including climbs like Pike and Vivero, familiar from the 2023 Tour de France start. Stage twelve, with two mid-stage climbs, is ideal for breakaways. Then things heat up with the Angliru-La Farrapona double. Two tough summit finishes in the second week will separate the men from the boys. The final stage of week two is one for adventurers, with plenty of climbing in the first part of the stage. After day fifteen, the second rest day follows.
The final week begins with a stage to Mos, a punchy but not too difficult uphill finish. Stage seventeen offers another opportunity for climbers, with a finish on Morrodero. The only individual time trial follows on the final Thursday. It is a flat route of 26 kilometers. Stage nineteen provides an opportunity for sprinters, although the finale is tricky and sharp. The Bola del Mundo, on Saturday, is the last chance to make differences in the general classification. Several climbs precede this brutal ascent, and the final three kilometers, reminiscent of the Ventoux in terms of scenery, are punishing. On Sunday, the Vuelta concludes with a sprint finish in Madrid.
In summary: two time trials, one of which is a team time trial, four flat finishes, ten summit finishes, and five stages with significant climbing but flat finishes.

Overview stages Vuelta a España 2025

The below tweets sum up each stage in a nutshell. Enjoy!

Stage 1 - Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025: Turin - Novara

Stage 2 - Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025: Alba - Limone Piemonte

Stage 3 - Monday, Aug. 25, 2025: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres

Stage 4 - Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025: Susa - Voiron 

Stage 5 - Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025: Figueres - Figueres 

Stage 6 - Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025: Olot - Pal (Andorra)

Stage 7 - Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: Andorra la Vella - Cerlier

Stage 8 - Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025: Monzon Templario - Zaragoza

Stage 9 - Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025: Alfaro - Estacion de esqui Valdezcaray

Stage 10 - Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025: Parque de la Naturaleza Sendaviva - El Farial Larra Belagua

Stage 11 - Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025: Bilbao - Bilbao

Stage 12 - Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025: Laredo - Los Corrales de Buelna

Stage 13 - Friday, Sept. 5, 2025: Cabezon de la Sal - L'Angliru

Stage 14 - Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025: Aviles - Alto de la Farrapona

Stage 15 - Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025: A Veiga/Vegadeo - Monforte de Lemos

Stage 16 - Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025: Poio - Moss

Stage 17 - Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025: O Barco de Valdeorras - Alto de El Morredero

Stage 18 - Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025: Valladolid - Valladolid 

Stage 19 - Friday, Sept. 12, 2025: Rueda - Guijuelo

Stage 20 - Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025: Robledo de Chavela - Bola del Mundo

Stage 21 - Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025: Alalpardo - Madrid

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