2025 Vuelta a España Viewing Guide (Includes 21 Stage Maps)

The 2025 Vuelta a España runs from Saturday, August 23rd through Sunday, September 14th. Riders will roll out from Turin, Italy, and race all the way to Madrid, tackling iconic hilly terrain along the way. There’s just one individual time trial on the schedule—only 26 kilometers—making this year’s route especially climber-friendly.

As the final Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta kicks off in Italy for the first time in history, with the opening three and a half days in the Piedmont region. The race then heads back onto Spanish soil for Stage 5’s team time trial, before wrapping up the first week with a tough run through the Pyrenees, including a summit finish in Andorra.

Defending champion Primož Roglič won’t be on the start line this year, and while newly crowned Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar originally had the Vuelta on his 2025 race plan, he’s officially ruled himself out after a brutal July in France.

That opens the door for his long-time rival Jonas Vingegaard, who will make his Vuelta a España debut. The Visma–Lease a Bike leader is expected to face stiff competition from Pogačar’s UAE teammates João Almeida and Juan Ayuso, as well as former Tour winner Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl–Trek), Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–Bora-Hansgrohe), Mikel Landa (Soudal–QuickStep), and Derek Gee (Israel–Premier Tech).

Beyond the general classification battle, big names like Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek) and Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) will be targeting stage wins.

2025 Vuelta a España Key Facts

· Dates: Saturday, August 23 – Sunday, September 14, 2025

· Start: Turin, Italy

· Finish: Madrid, Spain

· Record Winners: Roberto Heras & Primož Roglič (4 titles each)

· 2024 Champion: Primož Roglič

2025 Vuelta a España Route

This year’s Vuelta kicks off in Italy’s Piedmont region, right on the border of the French Alps. It’s being billed as a “Grand Start,” and for good reason—this is the first time in the Vuelta’s 90-year history that the race will roll out from Italy.

Piedmont is quickly becoming a Grand Tour hot spot: after hosting the 2024 Giro d’Italia and the 2024 Tour de France, it now gets the Vuelta, making it the third consecutive year a Grand Tour has started there.

For the first time since the pandemic-impacted 2020 edition, the Vuelta will begin with a road stage rather than a time trial. The mostly flat terrain on Stage 1 should give sprinters a rare chance to grab the red jersey early. But the race doesn’t wait long to show its teeth—Stage 2 finishes uphill in Limone Piemonte, with a 10 km climb averaging 5%.

After Stage 4 crosses the Alps into France, the peloton transfers back to Spain. The action restarts in Figueres with a team time trial, where the first real gaps in the general classification could open.

The Pyrenees promise the next major challenge of the race. Stage 6 finishes atop an 11-kilometer climb to Pal in Andorra, averaging 5%, followed the next day by the Céler climb. The second weekend of racing passes through the wine region of Rioja, with Stage 9 concluding on the uphill finish at Valdezcaray Ski Resort—a 13-kilometer climb at 5%. As the second week pushes toward the Bay of Biscay, the climbing continues relentlessly. After a series of rolling stages in the Basque Country, Stage 13 delivers the ultimate test: the legendary Alto de l’Angliru. Just 24 hours later, riders face another mountain showdown with the 18-kilometer climb to Farrapona, averaging 5.8%.

The final week of the 2025 Vuelta a España takes riders across northwest Spain, kicking off with a hilly stage before tackling the high-altitude finish at Alto de El Morredero (23 km at 5.2%). Stage 18 features a 26-kilometer individual time trial, giving specialists a chance to gain crucial seconds.

But before the ceremonial finish in Madrid, the GC contenders face the ultimate showdown on Stage 20 with the “hellish” Puerto de Pola del Mundo climb—21 km at 6.3% gradient—which is expected to decide the overall classification. After this grueling battle, riders will sprint through the streets of Spain’s capital to close out the race.

This Europe-spanning route covers a total of 3,180 kilometers. According to the organizers, the course includes 4 flat stages, 6 hilly stages, 5 mountain stages, 3 hilltop finishes, 1 team time trial, and 1 individual time trial, passing through 4 countries and matching a historical record for variety and distance in the Vuelta.

· Stage 1:Saturday, August 23–Turin (Palazzo Venaria) → Novara, 183 km

 The Vuelta kicks off with a flat stage that’s perfect for the sprinters to fight for the red jersey. The race starts in Turin, Italy’s first capital after unification, and winds its way to Novara. This route brings back memories of Tim Merlier’s first-ever Grand Tour stage win in 2021. Interestingly, the day also marks the 10th anniversary of Wouter Weylandt’s passing, adding a poignant note to the opening stage.

· Stage 2: Sunday, August 24–Alba to Limone Piemonte, 157 km

 The second stage heads into the mountains as riders tackle a long journey to Limone Piemonte. The 10KM climb averages a 5% gradient—moderate but challenging enough to shake things up. This kind of terrain could produce an open finish, with either a small group sprinting for the win or aggressive attacks from opportunistic riders looking to make their mark.

· Stage 3: Monday, August 25–San Maurizio Canavese to Ceres, 139 km

The final full day of racing in Italy features a rolling stage that’s perfect for breakaways. Back in the 2023 Giro d’Italia Donne, Antonia Niedermaier pulled off a dramatic stage win in Ceres, while Elisa Longo Borghini unfortunately crashed on a downhill and was forced to abandon.

· Stage 4: Tuesday, August 26–Plasencia to Puerto de Bicuercas, 170.4 km

While some had hoped this stage would include the Galibier Pass, the organizers opted for the Montgenèvre Pass instead. About 75 km from the finish, the peloton will pass near Alpe d’Huez before turning toward the town of Vallon, situated between Grenoble and Lyon.

· Stage 5:Wednesday, August 27: Figueres–Figueres, 20 km (Team Time Trial)

 After a two-year hiatus, the team time trial returns to the Grand Tour. This stage will finish with a climb in Figueres, the hometown of artist Salvador Dalí.

· Stage 6: Thursday, August 28–Olot to Pal (Andorra), 171 km

 The Pyrenees action kicks off in earnest on this stage. The Category 1 climb just before the finish in Pal will feel like home turf for the many riders who live in Andorra.

· Stage 7: Friday, August 29–Andorra la Vella to Cerler/Wieska Magic Town, 187 km

 Starting from Andorra la Vella, the riders will take on a series of challenging mountain passes, including the Puerto de Cantó and other rugged climbs. The final ascent into Cerler will feature a brand-new, never-before-seen climb in both the Vuelta a España and the Tour of Catalonia, promising a spectacular and decisive finish for the climbers.

· Stage 8:Saturday, August 30 Monzón–Zaragoza, 158 km

A rare sprint opportunity in this year’s Vuelta, as one of the few flat stages on the route. The last time the men’s race finished here, Juan Sebastián Molano took the stage win. In last year’s women’s Vuelta, Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner powered through a rolling course to claim victory.

· Stage 9:Sunday, August 31 Alfaro – Valdezcaray Ski Resort, 195 km

A 13-kilometer climb averaging 5% gradient awaits. While not the toughest climb of the race, it offers plenty of opportunities for the climbers to make a statement.。

· Stage 10:Tuesday, September 2 Sendaviva Nature Park – La Rabélagua Market, 168 km

After the rest day, riders start from the Navarra region’s Sendaviva park and face a spectacular climb near the France–Spain border to decide the day’s stage winner.

· Stage 11:Wednesday, September 3 Bilbao – Bilbao, 167 km

The Basque region brings back familiar terrain with Mount Gabierro and Mount Pike, which were featured in the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France. Short, steep climbs make this stage perfect for explosive riders to attack.

· Stage 12:Thursday, September 4 Laredo – Buerna Cattle Town, 143 km

Rolling terrain through Cantabria along the Bay of Biscay leads to Buerna Cattle Town, returning to the Vuelta for the first time since 1999.

· Stage 13:Friday, September 5 Cabezón de la Sal – Alto de l’Angliru, 202 km

The legendary “Devil’s Peak” looms with a 13-kilometer climb averaging over 9%, with ramps hitting 20% in the final 3 kilometers. In 2023, Jumbo–Visma dropped then-leader Sepp Kuss mercilessly on this climb, sparking internal team controversy.

· Stage 14:Saturday, September 6 Bierzo Libre – Farrapona, 135 km

 An 18KM continuous climb will push riders to the limit. Back in 2020, David Godoy managed to beat Mark Soler to take the stage win here.

· Stage 15:Sunday, September 7 Vega/Beguedo – Lemosburg, 167km

 The stage kicks off from a village named in the local dialect and immediately hits the climbs. Breakaway riders could have a real shot at victory on the Lemosburg summit finish.

· Stage 16:Tuesday, September 9 Poyo – Herville Castle, 172 km

 The ultimate climb in this Galicia stage recalls the drama of Miguel Ángel López withdrawing in 2021 after disputes with the Movistar management team.

· Stage 17:Wednesday, September 10 Valdeorras Port – Morredero Peak, 137 km

 The penultimate mountain finish features 23 km at an average gradient of 5.3%, including steep ramps up to 12%. This summit finish, near the pilgrimage town of Ponferrada, hasn’t been on the route for 19 years.

· Stage 18:Thursday, September 11 Valladolid – Valladolid, 26 km (Individual Time Trial)

 The only flat ITT of the race passes through the historic site where Christopher Columbus passed away.

· Stage 19:Friday, September 12 Rueda – Gijelo, 159 km

 A rolling stage with moderate terrain, giving both sprinters and breakaway specialists a shot at stage glory.

· Stage 20:Saturday, September 13 Villarcayo – Pico Blanco, 172 km

 After crossing the Guadarrama Mountains, the “World’s Ball” climb delivers the race’s toughest challenge: the final 5 kilometers ramp up to a brutal 20% gradient.

· Stage 21:Sunday, September 14 Alpalado – Madrid, 101 km

 The final circuit in Madrid starts just 30 km from Alpalado. The red jersey winner will have little time to savor the celebration champagne.

2025 Vuelta a España Contenders

 The Vuelta is often seen as the “second Grand Tour” — a follow-up feast for riders who’ve just finished the Tour de France, or a chance for those coming off the Giro d’Italia to rack up more success. This year’s lineup continues that tradition, bringing together riders who competed in both the Giro and the Tour.

Jonas Vingegaard emerges as the clear favorite. With his rival Tadej Pogačar sitting out, the Danish rider is expected to dominate every mountaintop finish. Backing him up is a strong support team, including Matteo Jorgenson, 2023 Vuelta champion Sepp Kuss, and the in-form Ben Tulett. After finishing just behind Pogačar in the Tour de France, Vingegaard’s path to Vuelta victory looks wide open — the only thing that could stop him is a mistake on his own part.

The Vuelta’s brutal mountain stages remind us that visibility and endurance are everything. Whether you’re tackling late-evening climbs, training on rolling terrain, or commuting after sunset, a reliable front light makes all the difference.

The Towild CL2000 Bike Light delivers 2000 lumens of powerful illumination, lightweight design, and long battery life — built for cyclists who refuse to stop when the sun goes down.

Train smarter, ride safer, and push your limits — just like the riders at the Vuelta.