Revealing Vuelta 2024's route: Dominated by mountains, sprinters don't need to pack their bags and two time trials!

Following the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, the Vuelta a España has announced its 2024 course as the last of the grand tours. The Spanish race opts for a characteristically tough route, where in August and September we'll look for a successor to Sepp Kuss. The race starts on Saturday, August 17, in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Grand Salida, which was already announced in September. Now, the details of the first three stages on Portuguese soil are revealed, along with the rest of the route, ending on September 8 with a time trial in Madrid.

The Vuelta begins with a flat time trial starting in Lisbon. Oeiras, a municipality near Lisbon, is the finishing location for the day. On the second day, the peloton moves from Cascais to Ourém, a city over a hundred kilometers north of Lisbon. The third and final stage in Portugal goes from Lousã to Castello Branco. The first two road stages seem designed for sprinters who can handle a climb at the end.

Week 1: Vuelta heads from Portugal to the southeast for some climbing and - on paper - the only flat stage.

For the rest, it's the familiar Vuelta formula, with, according to the organization, a total of thirteen tougher stages, five difficult mountain stages and - brace yourself - just one (!) flat stage. There are two time trials totaling 34 kilometers, bringing the total distance to 3265 kilometers through Spain. The finish is in the capital, Madrid.

True to form, the Vuelta doesn't waste any time getting to the climbs. After the starting whistle in Portugal, the riders make their way to Extremadura for a mountain stage in Villuercas, where Romain Bardet claimed victory two years back. Then, the race enters a demanding four-day stretch in Andalusia, culminating in Sevilla. Organizers note that this fifth stage is the route's sole completely flat stage, offering a prime opportunity for the sprinters. However, stage six brings a series of climbs, presenting a perfect chance for breakaways, as the course doesn't seem tough enough to significantly shake up the standings among the top contenders.

On day seven, a relatively easy stage is planned, but it ends with a second-category climb about twenty kilometers before the finish in Córdoba. Anything could happen here. Stage eight offers more climbing, with a finish on the Sierra de Cazorla, where Esteban Chaves won a stage in 2015. In stage nine, the riders have to tackle the steep Alto de Hazallanas twice in the final part before finishing in Granada. This is another challenging mountain stage.

Week 2: Conquering the impossibly hard Puerto de Ancares and Cuitu Negru

The second week of the Vuelta continues the mountain trend. Stage 10, en route to Baiona, includes a duo of first-category climbs and looks perfect for breakaway specialists. The eleventh day is a rollercoaster, featuring a classic profile with four climbs. It's a stage that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially by those eyeing the general classification. The twelfth stage also demands vigilance, finishing near the Manzaneda ski resort. Then, the riders head to the challenging Puerto de Ancares, a climb that has witnessed victories by Alberto Contador and Joaquim Rodriguez. A piece of tough news for sprinters: the finish is now even steeper than before.

But the grueling climbs of the second week are far from over. Stage fourteen opens up chances for breakaway riders and the brawlers. The stage features a rolling start and culminates with the long, yet not excessively steep, Puerto de Leitariegos. This climb might not be ideal for pure climbers to attack, leaving the final stretch wide open for surprises. GC contenders are likely to conserve their energy here in anticipation of stage fifteen. This queen stage takes on the daunting Cuitu Negru, a twenty-kilometer ascent that's brutally steep at the end and is sure to create substantial gaps. The Vuelta previously visited this climb in 2012, when Dario Cataldo triumphed.

Week 3: Mountains, mountains, mountains again: Lagos de Covadonga and Picon Blanco before the final time trial in Madrid

The final week doesn't get much easier as we immediately embark on a stage to Lagos de Covadonga. This climb has been the scene of numerous memorable battles. The most recent was between Egan Bernal and Primoz Roglic in 2021, with the latter coming out on top. From the Cantabrian coast, we continue through a stage for breakaways towards Santander. From there, the peloton heads south. In stage 18, the mountains are mid-stage, opening up various possible scenarios.

The final weekend promises to be extremely tough. The nineteenth stage finishes at Alto de Moncavillo (where Primoz Roglic won in 2020) and will be one of the last opportunities for climbers to regain time. The penultimate stage seems designed to turn the race on its head one last time. With seven climbs over 170 kilometers, including three first-category ascents, this stage offers a final chance for tactical plays and early attacks. The finish is at Picon Blanco (where Rein Taaramäe triumphed in 2021). The last stage isn't a sprint but a 22-kilometer time trial. If there are still small differences after the last mountain stage, this time trial could provide a dramatic finale.