Cycling: Yesterday, Saturday, the last Grand Tour of the year was presented. The 73rd Tour of Spain will start in Malaga on August 25th and end as usual in Madrid on September 16th. Unsurprisingly, this season is also the fact that it mainly caters to climbers. We will probably not see the top sprinters at the start of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 either. The stage planners inspire us once again with many hilly sections and some really tough mountain stages. One thing is already clear: the winner of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 must also be a damn good mountain climber.
The route of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 at a glance
All 21 stages of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 in detail
| Program | stage # | Location | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.08.18 | 1 | Málaga | 8,0 km | Prolog |
| 26.08.18 | 2 | Marbella - Caminito del Rey | 163,9 km | hilly |
| 27.08.18 | 3 | Mijas - Alhaurin de la Torre | 182,5 km | hilly |
| 28.08.18 | 4 | Velez Malaga - La Alfaguara | 162,0 km | mountainous |
| 29.08.18 | 5 | Granada-Roquetas | 188,0 km | hilly |
| 30.08.18 | 6 | Huercal-Overa - San Javier | 153,0 km | flat |
| 31.08.18 | 7 | Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcon | 182,0 km | flat |
| 01.09.18 | 8 | Linares-Almaden | 195,5 km | flat |
| 02.09.18 | 9 | Talavera de la Reina - La Covatilla | 195,0 km | mountainous |
| 03.09.18 | Day off | |||
| 04.09.18 | 10 | Salamanca-Fermoselle | 172,5 km | flat |
| 05.09.18 | 11 | Province of Zamora-Luintra | 208,8 km | hilly |
| 06.09.18 | 12 | Mondoñedo - Mañón (Cabo Estaca de Bares) | 177,5 km | flat |
| 07.09.18 | 13 | Candas - La Camperona | 175,5 km | mountainous |
| 08.09.18 | 14 | Cistierna-Les Praeres | 167,0 km | mountainous |
| 09.09.18 | 15 | Oviedo-Lagos de Covadonga | 185,5 km | mountainous |
| 10.09.18 | Day off | |||
| 11.09.18 | 16 | Santillana - Torrelavega | 32,7 km | individual time trial |
| 12.09.18 | 17 | Getxo-Monte Oiz | 166,4 km | mountainous |
| 13.09.18 | 18 | Ejea-Lleida | 180,5 km | flat |
| 14.09.18 | 19 | Lleida-Andorra | 157,0 km | mountainous |
| 15.09.18 | 20 | Andorra | 105,8 km | mountainous |
| 16.09.18 | 21 | Madrid | 112,3 km | flat |
Stage #1: Malaga
Date: August 25, 2018
Length: 8,0 km
Type: Prologue
For the first time since 2009, the Vuelta a Espana starts with an individual time trial instead of a team time trial. The first course is set in Malaga. However, these eight kilometers at the start should not be decisive for the overall victory.
Stage #2: Marbella – Caminito del Rey
Date: August 26, 2018
Length: 163,9 km
Type: hilly
Things get serious right on the second stage. There is no time to rest. Strong punchers can secure the leadership jersey today. The sprinters and the pure time trialists are already distanced.
Stage #3: Mijas – Alhaurín de la Torre
Date: August 27, 2018
Length: 182,5 km
Type: hilly
A typical stage for breakaways, but will you let them go on day #3? But hill-proof sprinters could also come into focus today. Driver types like Michael Matthews, Peter Sagan or John Degenkolb will be eyeing this section.
Stage #4: Vélez-Málaga – La Alfaguara
Date: August 28, 2018
Length: 162,0 km
Type: mountainous
It just doesn't get any easier! On the contrary: The fourth stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 is even considered a mountain stage. Good climbers have to show themselves. Today they cannot win the Vuelta, but they can lose it.
Stage #5: Granada – Roquetas
Date: August 29, 2018
Length: 188,0 km
Type: hilly
You could almost bet house and yard that the breakaways will decide the day's victory among themselves. The sprinters and the class riders will hardly register any ambitions.
Stage #6: Huércal-Overa – San Javier
Date: August 30, 2018
Length: 153,0 km
Type: flat
Only on the sixth day of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 do the sprinters really get their chance. The quite short stage should end in a mass sprint.
Stage #7: Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón
Date: August 31, 2018
Length: 182,0 km
Type: flat
This profile also only counts as a flat stage in the Vuelta a Espana. In the Tour de France, this could also pass as a transfer stage in the Massif Central. We are unsure whether the sprinters will actually triumph here in the end. The rise in the third category just before the end could throw a spanner in the works.
Stage #8: Linares – Almadén
Date: September 01, 2018
Length: 195,5 km
Type: flat
Flat again ... at least halfway. Pure sprinters don't stand a chance today either, but sprinters who are strong on hills definitely have their chances. If their teams can keep the peloton together, there will be a sprint from a larger group today.
Stage #9: Talavera de la Reina – La Covatilla
Date: September 02, 2018
Length: 195,0 km
Type: mountainous
Before the first rest day, things get serious again for the classification drivers. The second mountain stage is on the program. Even today, the strongest professionals will probably not really put their cards on the table.
Stage #10: Salamanca – Fermoselle
Date: September 04, 2018
Length: 172,5 km
Type: flat
After the rest day, things continue comfortably. The few sprinters in the peloton are guaranteed not to miss today's opportunity: mass sprint in Fermoselle!
Stage #11: Provincia de Zamora – Luintra
Date: September 05, 2018
Length: 208,8 km
Type: hilly
Perseverance is required today. At 208,8 kilometers, the eleventh stage is by far the longest stage of this year's Vuelta a Espana. The hilly terrain is perfect for a successful escape. Because it is too heavy for sprinters and too light for class drivers.
Stage #12: Mondoñedo – Mañón (Cabo Estaca de Bares)
Date: September 06, 2018
Length: 177,5 km
Type: flat
Many sprinters will leave the Vuelta a Espana 2018 after today's stage. For the time being, the section to Mañón offers the last chance for a mass sprint.
Stage #13: Candás – La Camperona
Date: September 07, 2018
Length: 175,5 km
Type: mountainous
The Vuelta a Espana 2018 really starts today. The 13th stage first takes the pros over a first-category mountain before the race ends with a mountain finish in La Camperona. As of today, bad days are forbidden if you want to be on the podium.
Stage #14: Cistierna – Les Praeres
Date: September 08, 2018
Length: 167,0 km
Type: mountainous
There are no high and hard mountain passes today. Thanks to the constant ups and downs, the stage is anything but easy. Normally, however, the top class drivers will not hurt themselves too much today.
Stage #15: Oviedo – Lagos de Covadonga
Date: September 09, 2018
Length: 185,5 km
Type: mountainous
Before the second day of rest, it is important for the class riders to be alert at all times. The mountains before the final ascent should not be underestimated. When all climbers come together at the foot of the last mountain, we experience an open exchange of blows. There is no longer any reason to keep the cards face down. The short descent before the finish line could tip the scales.
Stage #16: Santillana – Torrelavega
Date: September 11, 2018
Length: 32,7 km
Type: Individual Time Trial
On September 11, 2018, the strong climbers who love to fight against the clock can use their advantages against the mountain goats for the last time. Adequate time differences can be established over the almost 33-kilometer route. It is quite possible that we will see a change at the top of the overall standings today.
Stage #17: Getxo – Monte Oiz
Date: September 12, 2018
Length: 166,4 km
Type: mountainous
Anyone who had to accept a clap in the time trial the day before will respond without mercy today. The visor is long down. The cards are face up on the table. Today the best climber of the Vuelta a Espana 2018 will probably win and maybe even grab the leader's jersey.
Stage #18: Ejea – Lleida
Date: September 13, 2018
Length: 180,5 km
Type: flat
Sprinters of this Vuelta, show yourself - if you're still there. Today is the last chance for the fastest men in the world before the final stage in Madrid. If there aren't any left: Fire at the breakaways!
Stage #19: Lleida – Andorra
Date: September 14, 2018
Length: 157,0 km
Type: mountainous
A typical stage of the Tour of Spain. The approach is flat, at the end it goes up. Even if the profile actually gives a lot, little action can be assumed. The reason? Tomorrow matters!
Stage #20: Andorra
Date: September 15, 2018
Length: 105,8 km
Type: mountainous
Cheers to the stage planners of the Vuelta a Espana 2018! The monotonous profile of the Tour of Spain has often been criticized, but this year there is hardly anything to complain about. The final chord is especially fitting. The Vuelta a Espana 2018 will be decided in Andorra. A real showdown over six mountains awaits us - over a distance of only 105,8 kilometers. Experience has emptied us that short mountain stages are the most exciting. Today we will experience exactly that again.
Stage #21: Madrid
Date: September 16, 2018
Length: 112,3 km
Type: flat
The overall winner is determined. Today is celebrated. For the remaining sprinters in Madrid it is still about a day's win.
