When: August 14 - September 5 2021
Where: Spain
UCI category: WorldTour
Distance: 3417km
Key links: Route | Start list | How to watch |Standings
The Vuelta a España is the last of the trio of three-week long races called Grand Tours with the Spanish race often attractive huge names from the sport looking for success.
The Vuelta is known for being on of the most challenging races on the calendar with huge mountain stages and very little by way of flat days in the scorching late August to early September heat.
As per usual, this year's route is no different with the likes of Picón Blanco, Alto de Velefique, Lagos de Covadonga and the new climb of Altu d'El Gamoniteiru.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the race had to be cut down to just 18 stages at last year's race as the stages intended to take place in the Netherlands had to be cancelled.
But, thankfully the 2021 race is back up to it's full compliment of 21 stages with every stage taking place well within the Spanish borders to avoid difficulties.
Vuelta a España 2021 route
| Stage | Date | Start/Finish | Distance | Profile |
| 1 | Sat, Aug 14 | Burgos Catedral VIII Centenario - Catedral | 7.1km | ITT |
| 2 | Sun, Aug 15 | Caleruega - Burgos | 166.7km | Flat |
| 3 | Mon, Aug 16 | Santo Domingo de Silos - Picón Blanco | 202.8km | Hills |
| 4 | Tue, Aug 17 | El Burgo de Osma - Molina de Aragón | 163.9km | Flat |
| 5 | Wed, Aug 18 | Tarancón - Albacete | 184.4km | Flat |
| 6 | Thu, Aug 19 | Requena - Alto de la Montaña de Cullera | 158.3km | Hills |
| 7 | Fri, Aug 20 | Gandía - Balcón de Alicante | 152km | Mountains |
| 8 | Sat, Aug 21 | Santa Pola - La Manga del Mar Menor | 173.7km | Flat |
| 9 | Sun, Aug 22 | Puerto Lumbreras - Alto de Velifique | 188km | Mountain |
| Rest day | Mon, Aug 23 | |||
| 10 | Tue, Aug 24 | Roquetas de Mar - Rincón de la Victoria | 190.3km | Flat |
| 11 | Wed, Aug 25 | Antequera - Valdepeñas de Jaén | 133.6km | Mountains |
| 12 | Thu, Aug 26 | Jaén - Córdoba | 175km | Hills |
| 13 | Fri, Aug 27 | Belmez - Villanueva de la Serena | 203.7km | Flat |
| 14 | Sat, Aug 28 | Don Benito - Pico Villuercas | 165.7km | Mountains |
| 15 | Sun, Aug 29 | Navalmoral de la Mata - El Barraco | 197.5km | Mountains |
| Rest day | Mon, Aug 30 | |||
| 16 | Tue, Aug 31 | Laredo - Santa Cruz de Bezana | 180km | Flat |
| 17 | Wed, Sep 1 | Unquera - Lagos de Covadonga | 185.8km | Mountains |
| 18 | Thu, Sep 2 | Salas - Altu d'El Gamoniteiru | 162.6km | Mountains |
| 19 | Fri, Sep 3 | Tapia - Monforte de Lemus | 191.2km | Hills |
| 20 | Sat, Sep 4 | Sanxenxo - Mos Castro de Herville | 202.2km | Mountains |
| 21 | Sun, Sep 5 | Padrón - Santiago de Compostela | 33.8km | ITT |
Vuelta a España: past winners
2000: Roberto Herasdagger (Esp) Kelme–Costa Blanca
2001: Ángel Casero (Esp) Festina
2002: Aitor González (Esp) Kelme–Costa Blanca
2003: Roberto Heras (Esp) U.S. Postal Service
2004: Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros
2005: Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros–Würth
2006: Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
2007: Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
2008: Alberto Contador (Esp) Astana
2009: Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne
2010: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas–Doimo
2011: Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2012: Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank
2013: Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack–Leopard
2014: Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff–Saxo
2015: Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
2016: Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
2017: Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2018: Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton–Scott
2019: Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
2020: Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
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