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Wednesday, August 20, 2025

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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia

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Current racing:

• August 19 - 22: Tour du Limousin
• August 20 - 24: Renewi Tour

Upcoming racing:

• August 23 - September 14: Vuelta a España

Latest completed racing:

• August 17: Hamburg Cyclassics
• August 17: La Polynormande
• August 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
• August 15: Circuit Franco-Belge
• August 4 - 10: Tour of Poland
• August 7 - 10: Arctic Race of Norway
• August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
• August 6 - 8: Tour de l'Ain
• August 3: Circuito de Getxo
• August 2: San Sebastian Classic
• July 26 - July 30: Tour de Wallonie
• July 27: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
• July 5 - 27: Tour de France

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More teams announce their Vuelta a España squads

Team Jayco AlUla sent me this:

Team Jayco AlUla will go into the Vuelta a España targeting stage victories and a strong general classification result, headlined by three Grand Tour stage winners in Australians Ben O’Connor and Chris Harper, and Irish rider Eddie Dunbar.

O’Connor will lead the Australian squad’s overall ambitions, having ridden to second place overall at last year’s Vuelta a España. The 29-year-old rode into the leader’s red jersey with a victory on stage six, holding onto the race lead until the final days and ultimately finishing runner-up.

Ben O'Connor winning 2025 Tour de France stage 18. Photo: ASO/Aurélien Vialatte

A Queen stage purple patch
Over the past year, O’Connor, Harper, and Dunbar have delivered Team Jayco AlUla to three consecutive Queen stage victories in the calendar’s three-week races. The team will be aiming to make it a clean sweep of Grand Tour stage wins in 2025.

At last season’s Vuelta, Dunbar soared to two stage victories including on the formidable Picón Blanco. Harper made it a second Queen stage win in a row for the squad with his epic effort into Sestriere over the Colle delle Finestre.

O’Connor completed the hattrick of wins in the Grand Tours’ toughest stages by soloing to victory on a brutal day at the Tour de France last month.

Ben O’Connor:
“After the Tour is always a time to let it all soak in and enjoy the celebration for winning a stage and finding success at the biggest race in the world. After, you get back stuck into the hard work to prepare for the Vuelta a España. Last year, I had an amazing time leading the race for two weeks, wearing the red jersey, and it was a pretty special moment being on the podium.

"I’m coming back this year aiming for another great result and another great time. The route in general is a bit of a mixture with some easier stages, along with climbs that suit me quite well. There are some iconic stages like the Angliru, which I’ve never actually done before. It’s one of the hardest climbs in the world, so I can tick that one off the list. Hopefully we’ll get to Madrid, and I can also be up there on GC myself.”

A mixture of youth and experience
Experienced veterans Chris Juul Jensen and Koen Bouwman will provide a wealth of racing knowledge with 25 Grand Tour appearances between them, guiding the team across flat, mountainous and climbing terrain. Adding to the engine room of the squad is Austrian Patrick Gamper, who has been part of two Grand Tour winning squads including the team that won last year's Vuelta.

Rounding out the aggressive squad will be 24-year-old Anders Foldager and team pursuit Olympic champion Kell O’Brien. Foldager is set to make his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta as O’Brien lines up at the Spanish race for the second time.

Stephen Cummings:
“We’ve got a strong team for the Vuelta a España with Harper, O’Connor, and Dunbar for the climbs. Of course, nine of the stages finish uphill so hopefully they can be up there in those finishes, and we will aim to keep O’Connor in contention for the GC, too. Foldager has a fast finish, and he can also follow in bunch sprints so there are some good chances for him, too.

"Bouwman will also be there to help in the mountains, while O’Brien, Juul Jensen, and Gamper, are hybrid riders. They can try to help O’Connor, Harper, and Dunbar when they can in the mountains and be present in breakaways and then help position Foldager for those other stages. I think the team time trial squad is very strong as well and we’ll be looking forward to a strong result on that stage.”

Team Jayco AlUla at the Vuelta a España 2025:
Koen Bouwman (NED) 4th appearance
Eddie Dunbar (IRL) 3rd appearance
Anders Foldager (DEN) Debut appearance
Patrick Gamper (AUT) 3rd appearance
Chris Harper (AUS) 3rd appearance
Chris Juul Jensen (DEN) 2nd appearance
Kell O’Brien (AUS) 2nd appearance
Ben O’Connor (AUS) 4th appearance

Here's Team Lotto's Vuelta squad announcement:

Lotto Cycling Team is set to line up at the start of the 90th edition of La Vuelta a España with a balanced and ambitious squad.

Alec Segaert, Arjen Livyns, Eduardo Sepúlveda, Elia Viviani, Jasper De Buyst, Jonas Gregaard, Lars Craps and Liam Slock: these are the eight riders who will defend the colors of our team over the next three weeks through Spain and its neighboring countries.

Elia Viviani (right) wins stage 7 of this year's Tour of Turkey.

The team travels to the Vuelta with a versatile selection, ready to show ourselves on different terrains. In the sprint stages, Elia Viviani will be our reference point, supported by Jasper De Buyst, one of the best lead-out riders in the peloton. Drawing on their wealth of Grand Tour knowledge, they provide the leadership and composure needed to guide the team through the race’s most demanding situations.

In the mountains, the duo of Eduardo Sepúlveda and Jonas Gregaard will aim to animate the race and join early breakaways. Alec Segaert, making his Grand Tour debut, will be the team’s main man for the time trial stages and is eager to test himself on the biggest stage. Fellow debutant Liam Slock also looks forward to gaining valuable experience while showing his strength in the tougher stages. Arjen Livyns and Lars Craps will provide all-round support across the different stages.

“Our line-up for this Vuelta brings together sprinters, climbers, and young talents discovering their first three-week race,” explains sports manager Mario Aerts. “Elia has shown he can compete against the very best, and with Jasper he has great support in the finales. Eduardo and Jonas will go on the attack in the mountains, and for Alec and Liam this will be a milestone in their development. We want to race offensively, make the most of every opportunity, and above all show the team’s colors day after day.”

And here's the Vuelta squad announcement from Team EF Education-EasyPost:

EF Education-EasyPost is ready to step up and show the world what they’ve got at the Vuelta a España.

Archie Ryan, Markel Beloki, Lukas Nerurkar, and Jardi van der Lee will make their grand tour debuts this Saturday at the start of the Vuelta in Torino. Veterans Esteban Chaves and James Shaw will be their guides as they face up to the challenges of their first three-week race, alongside Madis Mihkels and Sean Quinn.

Archie Ryan winning stage four of the 2024 Coppi-Bartali race. Sirotti photo

Our Vuelta a España squad has nothing to lose and 21 chances to win on the 3,180-km road to Madrid. From Piedmont, where the Spanish grand tour is holding its first ever start on Italian soil, to the capital, our guys will take on every stage like a one-day race and attack every chance that they get.

The Vuelta is usually the most explosive grand tour of the season and with mountains like the Angliru and Bola del Mundo on the course, our climbers are ready to soar.

Read our team’s thoughts ahead of the start and get ready for three weeks of red hot action at the race for La Roja.

Jardi van der Lee:
When our sports directors called me with the news that I would be participating in the Vuelta, I got goosebumps all over my body. It is a dream come true. The Vuelta is my favorite grand tour to watch. I like the atmosphere and the time of the year. It’s near the end of the season and in Spain, which is one of my favorite countries. The weather is always pretty warm and that suits me well.

My preparation was pretty good. I did an altitude camp in July, and then I went to one one-day race in Spain and did well with some good gains from the altitude. Then, I went to Mallorca and did some good training efforts. I did a TT on the Randa and set some of my best numbers, and then planned to go for the Sa Colobra KOM on the Coll dels Reis. I did it on the right day, went full gas, and broke the record. From then on, I kept the intensity a bit lower because I knew there was a big block of races coming up in September. I took a little rest and then got the good news that I was selected for the Vuelta.

For me, it would be incredible if I could get up there in one of the stages that suits me and participate in the race for the stage win. I also need to be realistic. It is my first grand tour and it would also be great to play a role in a win from one of my more experienced teammates. Of course, I really want to make it to Madrid and finish my first ever grand tour too.

It is going to be a new experience and, like all new experiences, you don't know what to expect. I’ve heard lots of stories and am a little nervous, but I think a little bit of nerves are good for the body and the mind.

Archie Ryan:
I'm pumped. I'm super, super excited. I think it is going to be a great three weeks. I haven't done a grand tour before, so I'm excited for the experience. We've got a super young squad. It’ll be pretty exciting and hopefully Poppy Chaves can guide us through it nicely.

I want to try and get in the break in some of the harder stages and fight for a stage win or two. That’s the goal. There are going to be loads of opportunities.

That is why I'm just really excited to go there. It is the grand tour that has the stages that suit me the best.

The training has been going pretty well. I had a good week in Burgos. It was nice to be racing in the heat that we'll probably see at the Vuelta as well. It has been a pretty steady run in. I can’t complain. I am in good form and ready to go.

Esteban Chaves:
I don't know how many grand tours I have done in my life already, but I still feel the same pressure, still have the same nerves. I guess, if I would stop feeling like this, this job would not be for me anymore.

This week right before is always the worst; you feel a bit tired, but you also want to keep going and you wonder, did I train too much or do too little? But it is always like this. We did everything we could and all of the work will be paid back over the next month. It is going to be fun with all of the young guys. I am super excited.

I remember when I did my first grand tour many, many years ago. I was always watching what the older guys were doing. That is going to be a challenge and a big responsibility as well. If I do a bad race or am moody or complain too much, they will take that on. And I don’t want that for them. I want to create a great memory for them in the future. My very first grand tour, I had a really nice time. It was tough, but I learned a lot, and had a great time.

Of course, we want to win. If I can win myself, that would be great. But also, as a team, we have really, really good talent for the Vuelta and if we manage the race well and play it to our strengths, there are many, many chances for victories for us.

Markel Beloki:
It is going to be hard, but it should be fun too. It was nice to receive the call that I was going to get to go to a grand tour. The Vuelta is something special at home in Spain, so I'm super happy and really looking forward to it.

I did good work this year. I didn’t have the Vuelta as a clear objective, but it was something that I was working towards.

I've watched the Vuelta since I was a kid, trying to go see the stages in the Basque Country. I grew up watching this race, also the Tour and the Giro, but this one is more special.

My dad told me just to enjoy it and to suffer a lot. You can listen to a lot of advice, but I think that’s the most important thing, to enjoy it and to try to suffer as much as I can.

We did an altitude camp together with the team and the atmosphere was really nice. When you are young and everyone is a similar age it is easier to understand each other. It is going to be super nice to be teammates with these guys. We are all going to be learning all the time from the older guys too, guys like Chaves.

My ambition is to try to enjoy every minute and, of course, we will try to get good results. But for me, I will just try to enjoy it and to finish my first grand tour.

James Shaw:
This is my third Vuelta now with the team. Every grand tour I have done, I have done with Juanma Garate for my sports director. He has been there for my best and worst experiences. I wouldn’t want it any other way to be honest. He fills me with confidence.

I was talking to him when I was packing my suitcase and he said, “I need you to be like the older brother of the team.” I didn't quite think I'd be ready for that role before I was 30, but I do think it is important that everyone has someone to look up to. There are plenty of people in the team for the young guys to look up to, not just myself. Esteban has been up there in a few grandies. He can push on the pedals pretty well!

It is exciting to have all the young guys though. They're going to bring so much enthusiasm. We don’t have anything to fear. Everyone here has been selected for their own ability. Nobody is here by chance.

For me, to win a stage in a grand tour would mean a lot. It’s no secret that my career to date hasn't been plain sailing. It has been a rollercoaster circus ride to get here. A grand tour stage win would prove that all that hacking round on British Conti teams and so on was worth it. It would mean that I could look back and say, it was worth the pain and suffering.

Lukas Nerurkar
I am excited. It will be my first grandy, but I think I'm in a good place to give it a good go. I'm only a bit nervous about how long it is. I have done a lot of races at a high level, but three weeks is proper long. We have a nice group of us going, a few guys who are in the same position as me, and then a few guys with experience, like Esteban. That should get us round nicely.

My recovery from my crash at the Trofeo Laigueglia was as smooth as I could have wanted. I had a fair bit of time off the bike, recovering from a broken jaw, but then I got back into it and right now I feel everything's back to normal. It was nice being able to eat again! That was probably the best thing. I had four weeks on the full liquid diet. That was pretty tough. I just had to find as many soup and smoothie recipes as I could find. So I was relieved to be back chewing some normal food. After that came getting on the bike again and that all went really well.

As a team, we don't have anyone for GC, which for me for a first grand tour is quite nice. It will be a bit less stressful day to day and gives us more opportunity to focus on going for stages. I've had a look already and thought about a few stages. We will come up with a plan with the directors.

We’re all going to be going through it at the same time and dealing with the same sort of challenges together, which will make them easier to deal with. It’s nice that we've got that experience from a guy like Esteban, who can make sure we're doing the right stuff, saving energy where we need to be and so on.

Sean Quinn:
I just feel excited to race my bike again. I am grateful to be able to get to a start line of a grand tour and see where I end up, because I haven't done any WorldTour racing for a year. I don't really know what it's like anymore, but I'm looking forward to testing myself and competing again, because I'm a competitor. That's what I love to do. It's been a long, long time just battling with injuries and health, so I am happy to be able to go out there and battle in a real race scenario again.

There were definitely times this past year when I thought I would never race my bike again, because of my knees. That definitely showed me some fragility and reminded me that every race I do could be my last, whether I like that or not. I think that goes with anything in life. Sometimes, cycling is so hard physically and mentally that maybe late in the season, you're ready to go home or ready to throw in the towel when you're suffering in a race, but I have learned that I need to treat every race as if it could be my last one. This year, I’ll get to go to one stage race. So, I have to grab it with both hands and make the most of it.

I've realized that life sometimes just throws crappy situations at you, and it's not really about the outcome or how those situations change your life, it's more about how you perceive them and how you deal with them. I have learned to accept every situation for what it is. A lot of stuff has been difficult, but good comes out of all tough battles. And all bad situations help you develop as a human.

It is a weird feeling to be a veteran on the roster, but that seems to be the theme nowadays. I’m still eligible for the best young rider competition, but I am getting to the older side of our team, but it is good. The young guys bring a lot of enthusiasm and a newer mentality and they keep me feeling young, just being around them. I think they have a bit more appreciation for the Vuelta. For four of them, it is going to be their first grand tour, whereas if you're on a more veteran roster, maybe there's less stress, because everyone has more experience, but at the same time, a lot of guys might just be going through the motions. So it'll be nice to have some fresh faces there.

Madis Mihkels:
I'm super excited. I did my first grand tour last year at the Giro d’Italia, and despite crashing, I came out of it pretty well. Obviously, I am hoping for more good luck this year. I know what to expect, so I am looking forward to it

We’re going to aim for stage wins as a team. I see five great opportunities for me to sprint. Those are my goals, those five stages.

The first stage in Italy is already a chance for me. The rest of the parcours is obviously really, really hard. But I am good enough that I think I can survive in the grupetto in a good way, get through it and save as much as possible for the days that are important for me.

Racing with the Estonian champion’s jersey is super cool. It is a really beautiful jersey. I love the design and I feel proud to wear my national colors.

Here's the Vuelta team announcement from the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team:

We are proud to announce our eight riders for the Vuelta a España, our second Grand Tour as a team. This year, the Vuelta starts in Italy and presents the riders with eleven mountain or hilltop finishes, including the iconic Alto del Angliru, La Farrapona and Bola del Mundo.

The Q36.5 Pro Cycling roster for La Vuelta comprises four Spanish riders, plus one each from Switzerland, Australia, Canada and Great Britain.

Our line-up: Xabier Mikel Azparren (ESP), Marcel Camprubí (ESP), Fabio Christen (SUI), David de la Cruz (ESP), David González (ESP), Damien Howson (AUS), Tom Pidcock (GBR) and Nick Zukowsky (CAN).

“The Vuelta is the most special race of the year,” said David de la Cruz. “It’s where I had my first pro win and wore the leader’s jersey nine years ago. This race gave me the opportunity to show myself and it’s been driving my career throughout: in winter, in spring, in summer and at altitude camps. The Vuelta is one of the biggest races on the calendar and it’s where I meet my family and friends. I know the roads. I have never represented a Spanish team so this race is like home. It gives such a warm and safe feeling to race at home. 

"I am grateful to the organizers we have the opportunity to race here. It helps the team grow. I will help Tom like in Tirreno where we were a good tandem. He is exploring his capacities as a Grand Tour rider. No one knows yet, even himself, what he can do and I am happy to help with my experience but I also look forward to get my own chance when one presents itself.” 

Tom Pidcock starts his second Grand Tour of the season after he finished the Giro d’Italia where he finished in the top five on three stages. The Vuelta was his first Grand Tour back in 2021 and he is eager to return, especially after a strong showing in both mountain biking and the Arctic Race of Norway earlier this summer.

Tom Pidcock headed to the start of 2025 Giro d'Italia stage 12. Sirotti photo

“The course this year is very diverse but still typical of the Vuelta, with its many uphill finishes,” Pidcock said. “There are plenty of stages with profiles that could suit a rider like me, and there’s even a stage in Andorra, quite close to where I live. We learned from the Giro and had more time for thorough preparation this time, with an altitude camp and the Arctic Race of Norway. I’m curious to see what I can do in the general classification. For that, we have a strong team, with riders who each bring their own strengths. It’s a well-rounded group, we’ve prepared well, and I’m really looking forward to starting in Piemonte this Saturday with the boys.”

Alex Sans Vega, the team’s Head of Racing and one of its Sports Directors, is eager for the upcoming race in his home country. Based in Girona, he is particularly excited about the team time trial on day five in Figueres, just around the corner from where he lives.

“That was the first stage I reconned when I saw the course,” Alex smiles. “I know the area really well and it’s something for the fans to look forward to. It will be a good show. It’s a mix of fast sections and more technical parts.”

When he looks at the team he sees many opportunities for stage success. It’s also a course that suits Tom Pidcock, according to the head of racing of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

“I am curious how far he can go in the GC because the course suits him perfectly. We have a strong team in general and I am confident for a good team performance. Tom will have Damo, Zuke and Xabier Mikel with him, like he did in the Giro d’Italia. A special mention for David de la Cruz who brings experience and knows this race so well.

For me it’s wonderful to see two riders who started their pro career with us make their Grand Tour debut. The steps that both Fabio and Marcel made this year are testament to our development vision. David González will complete the line up. We have four Spanish riders at the start line and can expect many fans on the Spanish roads. I am grateful we received the wildcard and I can’t wait to get started.”

And here's the Vuelta a España team announcement from Team Bahrain Victorious:

La Vuelta a España, the third and final Grand Tour of the season, comes in the midst of a packed week’s racing for Bahrain Victorious, with two other stage races underway in Germany and the Benelux, promising a full weekend for TBV fans.

For the first time in its 90-year history, La Vuelta will start in Italy. After previous starts in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, this will be the sixth time the Spanish Grand Tour begins on foreign soil.

From Turin to Madrid, the three weeks between 23rd August and 14th September will see the peloton cover 3,151 kilometres across four countries (Italy, France, Andorra, and Spain) and 21 stages, with nearly 55,000 metres of elevation gain and 10 summit finishes. The route is especially suited to climbers, with only four flat stages, one of which ends in an uphill finish.

Paying homage to tradition, this 80th edition will feature legendary passes such as Morredero, Cerler, and Valdezcaray, as well as the return of the Angliru — considered one of the toughest climbs in the world — midway through the race. The showdown will come on the penultimate day atop the Bola del Mundo, returning to La Vuelta for the first time since 2012.

The first major mountain stage comes in Andorra, following the transfer to Spain and a team time trial in Figueres on Stage 5. However, by then the climbing legs will already have been tested. After the flat opener (Torino, Reggia di Venaria – Novara, 186.1 km), Stage 2 (Alba – Limone Piemonte, 159.6 km) features an uphill finish (5.4% average gradient over 7.6 km) and will be an early target for Bahrain Victorious, as lead Sports Director Franco Pellizotti explains:

“We see in this stage an opportunity to strike immediately: to try to take a victory and wear the red jersey as well.”

Bahrain Victorious’ leader for La Vuelta 2025 is Antonio Tiberi, making his fourth appearance at the race. The 24-year-old Italian climber is eager to deliver his best after being forced to abandon last year due to heatstroke on Stage 9, when he was riding strongly, wearing the best young rider’s jersey, and fighting for the GC podium.\

Antonio Tiberi in the Best Young Rider's jersey after stage 5 of the 2024 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo

“I will have the same aim as at the Giro d’Italia: to target the final podium,” explains Tiberi, who saw his Italian ambitions derailed by a crash. “The whole team believes in me, and that gives me a lot of confidence. I also trust my teammates, with whom I’ve worked very well in preparation for this race. We are here with a solid squad.

The course suits me better this time, with more long climbs rather than the short, steep ones of the past — those longer ascents suit me more. I’m focused on the General Classification, so I don’t have a specific stage where I want to go for the win. I will always be ready and attentive. If on a mountain stage I feel good and there’s an opportunity, I will try to attack and go for a personal result.”

With Stage 3 (San Maurizio Canavese – Ceres, 134.6 km) also on Italian soil, offering opportunities for breakaways or sprinters on a not-so-flat finale, Stage 4 (Susa – Voiron, 192 km) will take the riders into France through the Alps, with the Col de Montgenèvre and Col du Lautaret to be tackled 70 km from the finish.

“After that stage, riders will fly to Spain, where no rest day awaits them. Instead, one of the main dangers on the road to Madrid is scheduled: the team time trial (Figueres – Figueres, 20 km),” comments Pellizotti.

If the TTT reshapes the GC, climbers will quickly have the chance to regain ground with the ‘Pyrenees days.’ Stage 6 (Olot – Pal, Andorra, 170 km) culminates with a Category 1 summit finish, while Stage 7 (Andorra la Vella – Cerler, Huesca La Magia, 187 km) is the most mountainous of this edition, with over 4,400 metres of climbing across four major ascents.

“The day after (Stage 8, Monzón Templario – Zaragoza, 187 km) is for the sprinters, but I see it as another day to watch for GC riders because of potential echelons,” Pellizotti says.

Stage 9 (Alfaro – Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray, 195 km) offers a tough challenge before the first rest day in Pamplona, with more than 3,200 metres of climbing and an uphill finish, though only one categorised climb is on the route.

The second week resumes with Stage 10 (Parque de la Naturaleza Sendaviva – El Ferial Larra Belagua, 168 km) in the Navarre region, where an easy start leads into a decisive Category 1 climb on the French-Spanish border.

“Our attention will be drawn to Stage 11 (Bilbao – Bilbao, 167 km). With its typical Basque profile — seven short but punchy climbs — it’s one of the most dangerous stages for GC riders, ending with a technical descent and fast run-in. The aim is to arrive in good spirits and form for the demanding days to follow.”

Stage 12 (Laredo – Los Corrales de Buelna, 143 km) features two early climbs but a flat finish that may suit attackers. Stage 13,(Cabezón de la Sal – L’Angliru, 202 km), on the third Friday, will be decisive. The Angliru (12.5 km at over 10% average, with ramps of 23.5% in the final 3 km) returns after a year’s absence, concluding the race’s longest stage. Two other Category 1 climbs — Alto de Mozqueta and Alto de Cordal — precede it.

In 2023, Santiago Buitrago finished 8th on the Angliru: “It’s the hardest climb I’ve done in my career. You climb it at 9–10 km/h, and the last kilometre never ends. I was lucky to stay with the front riders then. This year, I’d like to do better. It depends how we arrive there and what the team’s goals are. I recovered well after the Tour de France and my injuries, so I’m ready. The course suits climbers, and there are stages I’ve marked — like Andorra, close to home, and mythical climbs like Angliru and Bola del Mundo. Winning there would be unforgettable.”

Stage 14 (Avilés – Alto de la Farrapona, 135 km) is short but demanding with multiple climbs and an uphill finish. Stage 15 (A Veiga/Vegadeo – Monforte de Lemos, 167 km) may favour breakaways before the second rest day in Pontevedra.

“The course offers multiple opportunities for success, while keeping an eye on GC,” Pellizotti continues. “Buitrago will have many chances in the mountains. Caruso, our road captain, is in top shape; Jack Haig, a former podium finisher, knows this terrain well; and Torstein Træen comes from a strong showing in Burgos. With GC our priority, we’ll also remain open to stage opportunities. Nicolò Buratti will contest sprints, while other Grand Tour debutants Mathijs Paasschens and Roman Ermakov will provide crucial support and seek breakaways. Overall, we have a well-balanced squad to fight on every terrain.”

The final week begins with Stage 16 (Poio – Mos.Castro de Herville, 172 km), with four climbs and a summit finish, followed by another important day in the mountains, 137 km from O Barco de Valdeorras to Alto de El Morredero, which ends in another challenging ascent.

Stage 18 is the second time trial (Valladolid – Valladolid, 26 km), a flat course favouring specialists against the clock. It could be decisive for the GC, especially for pure climbers weaker in the discipline.

Team Bahrain Victorious leader Antonio Tiberi on the ITT course:
“It is very similar to the 2023 edition, and it suits me well. It’s very fast and quite long, which I like. I will try to gain as much time as possible on my GC rivals. Since it comes in the last week, we have to consider the factor of accumulated fatigue — everybody will be tired, and that can make an even bigger difference.”

Before the finale in Madrid (Stage 21, Alalpardo – Madrid, 101 km), sprinters may find an opportunity on Stage 19 (Rueda – Guijuelo, 159 km), while the GC battle will likely rage on Stage 20 (Robledo de Chavela – Bola del Mundo, 156 km). Featuring a series of climbs leading to the final ascent of Bola del Mundo (2,200m), its last 3.2 km average 12.2% — likely the ultimate judge of who will be crowned winner of La Vuelta 2025.

The 80th edition of cycling’s third ‘Grand Tour’ always offers opportunities for GC riders to end the season on a high, and 2025 is no exception. With names like Vingegaard, Almeida and Pedersen on the startlist, alongside our own Tiberi, Buitrago, Haig, Caruso et al, this promises to be one of the most hotly contested Vueltas in recent memory.

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