Vuelta a España organisers announce details of first four stages in Malaga

Vuelta a España organisers Unipublic have announced details of the first four stages of the 2015 edition, with the race set to start with a time trial on August 22.

Departing from Puerto Banús and finishing along the coast in Marbella, the first time trial is yet to be confirmed as a team or individual effort.

Stage two will see the maillot rojo and the rest of the peloton depart Alhaurin de la Torre and head towards the first ever stage finish in Caminito del Rey.

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The stage finishes near the gorge in El Chorro, which features a 100m-high walkway along the edge of the cliffs (see video below).

http://youtu.be/ZmDhRvvs5Xw

The riders, however, will likely not be subjected to such extreme terrain, instead heading to Mijas for the stage-three race back to the coast in Malaga.

Stage four will roll out from Estepona, with the finishing town to be announced with the rest of the route on January 10.

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The three-week race will feature nine or ten summit finishes, with a long, flat time trial scheduled for stage 17 in Burgos and a potential night-time finish in Madrid for the final stage.