SPORT – From August 14 to September 5, cycling fans and lovers of the Spanish landscape can enjoy the last cycling rounds of 2021 – The Vuelta a España. The teams have been announced and, there are several favourites who have a chance to win the title.
The day before the Tour of Spain, more details will be known about who will start, who the contenders are, and where the challenges lie for the athletes. The 2021 Vuelta a España is the 75th edition of the 3,336.1 kilometers long Spanish cycling race. It will be held entirely on Spanish territory.
First part from Burgos to Alto de Velefique
The first week of the cycling round starts in the province of Burgos and ends with a long, flat ride from Tarancón to Albacete. However, before the first day of rest, the serious climbing starts in the Valencia region. Followed by tough mountain stages including climbing the Alto de Velefique in the south of Spain.
Second part from Roquetas del Mar to El Barraco
After the first rest day, the riders will pick up the race in Andalucia. Then the road will start towards the north of Spain. Some mountain stages, including to Valdepeñas de Jaén, with the combination of the heat in Spain, are expected to be quite tough. The riders also pass through Córdoba these days. The second part ends with significant climbs of Pico Villuercas and the Puerto de Mijares.
Last part from Laredo to Santiago de Compostela
The final week begins with a stage through Cantabria and the classic ascent to Lagos de Covadonga. Especially at the bottom of these mountain lakes, beautiful images are guaranteed. Then, in Asturias, a tough mountain stage awaits the riders with four difficult climbs with gradients of up to 12%.
For the first time since 2014, the Vuelta does not end with the finish line in the Spanish capital Madrid. This time the finish is planned to take place in Santiago de Compostela.
Vuelta a España points scoring
All teams are now known. However, the organisation has changed the points distribution, which is stated in the Specific Regulations Vuelta a España 2021. Therefore, this means at the end of each stage, whether it is a sprint, mountain, or time trial, no more than 25 points will be awarded to the winner. Furthermore, it is now judged based on the difficulty of the ride, whether the winner will be awarded 50, 30, or 20 points.
Favourites Vuelta a España 2021
Spanish and foreign media point to 31-year-old Primož Roglič from Slovenia as a potential winner. He rides for team Jumbo-Visma and also won the Vuelta in 2019 and 2020. However, the revised points system means it is no longer certain that Roglič will win the Tour of Spain for the third time. Some other favourites include Australia’s Michael Matthews, Italy’s Matteo Trentin, and Spain’s Alex Aranburu.
