The organisers of the Vuelta a España have given climbers of world cycling a welcome gift in the form of a typically mountainous edition of the race. There will be ten summit finishes in total, eight of them rated category one or above, most notably the infamous Alto de l’Angliru.
Prior to reaching the mountains, the race will visit both the other Grand Tour nations: Italy and France. The Vuelta follows the opening stages of the Tour de France this year with a flat stage, uphill finish and rolling stage, before the riders eventually cross the border into Spain on stage five via France.
From there the race will take place almost exclusively in northern terrain, the hot regions of Andalusia, Murcia and Extremadura overlooked entirely as the race never ventures further south than Madrid.
In between all the climbing stages will be an individual time, team time trial, some sprint stages and some for the puncheurs. But above all this is a Vuelta for the climbers.
Vuelta a España 2025 stage
STAGE ONE: TORINO-REGGIA DI VENARIA TO NOVARA (200KM)
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Stage profile from the La Vuelta website
For the first time since 2020 the Vuelta a España will start with a road stage, and for the first time since 2007 it should be a sprinter who will end the opening day in the red jersey. This Italian Gran Salida is a long stage (the second longest of the race, in fact), but there is only one small climb to be tackled early on, meaning it should be an easy day for the sprinters’ teams to control.
STAGE TWO: ALBA TO LIMONE PIEMONTE (157KM)
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Stage profile from the La Vuelta website
The race might remain in Italy for a second day, but stage two has the profile of a typical Vuelta stage, teasing the sprinters with a flat first 133km before denying them with an uphill finish. The Limone Piemonte climb is long and shallow rather than short and steep, so won’t see significant gaps between the GC favourites.
STAGE THREE: SAN MAURIZIO CANAVESE TO CERES (139KM)
Monday, August 25, 2025
Stage profile from the La Vuelta website
The third and final stage finish in Italy will again be uphill, although this time up an uncategorized ascent to Ceres. Rolling terrain early in the stage may mean the breakaway has a chance, involving riders who lost enough time yesterday to be allowed freedom to get up the road.
STAGE FOUR: SUSA TO VOIRON (192KM)
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Stage profile from the La…