Spain • Grand Tour
La Vuelta a España is a Grand Tour renowned for its brutally steep mountain stages, often featuring gradients exceeding 15% and taking place under the scorching Spanish sun, pushing riders to their absolute limits. It's an unpredictable, captivating race that thrives on chaos, offering a 'last-chance saloon' for riders to launch aggressive attacks and create unexpected narratives throughout its intense three weeks.
Total Editions
1
Latest Winner
TBD
First Edition
2026
Total Distance
3285 km
La Vuelta is characterized by its mountainous terrain, frequently featuring extremely steep climbs known as 'rampas inhumanas' with gradients often exceeding 15-20%, making for explosive and unpredictable racing. Key challenges include these brutal ascents like Alto de l'Angliru, and the intense heat during its August/September schedule, which can reach over 40°C (104°F). Signature features often involve numerous summit finishes (sometimes 7 or more), individual time trials, and occasionally team time trials, along a route that showcases diverse Spanish landscapes.
The race was first organized by the newspaper Informaciones. 1937-
The competition was suspended due to the Spanish Civil War. 1943-
Suspended again during World War II.
The race has been held annually without interruption since this year.
The race calendar slot was moved from April/May to August/September.
The general classification leader's jersey permanently changed to its iconic red color.