Vuelta a Espana
Vuelta a Espana coverage from Cycling Weekly, with up to date race results, rider profiles and news and reports.
Dates: August 17 - September 11, 2022
Stages: 21
Length: 3280.5km
Start: Utrecht (Netherlands)
Finish: Madrid
TV Coverage (UK): Eurosport, GCN+
Key links: Route | Start list | How to watch |Standings
The Vuelta a España is the final Grand Tour of the 2022 season, with the race following the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the WorldTour calendar.
Starting with three stages in the Netherlands - delayed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic - the Vuelta travels across Spain from stage four and features eight gruelling summit finishes, including Sierra Nevada. The Asturias, Basque Country and southern Spain, the 2022 edition will, naturally, be made even more difficult by the late August and early September sun.
The finish returns to Madrid once again this year, after a brief hiatus where the race visited Santiago de Compostela for a final day time trial. The day is just over 100km long and will likely see the sprinters contest the conclusion to what is expected to be a thrilling race.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) has won the race three years in a row, from 2019 to 2021, and it is likely the Slovenian will return to defend his crown once again in 2022. While the start list isn't yet confirmed, he is expected to face competition from Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), 2016 winner Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic) and recent Giro winner Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Elsewhere, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) could make a return to racing following a tumltuous 2022 where he badly crashed at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, before then having his progress halted by contracting Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will compete in the race he won in 2009 for the final time, as he retires at the end of the season at 42-years-old. With the race making a brief visit to Valverde's hometown of Murcia, expect a rousing reception. Indeed, the Spaniard will likely be cheered on from every corner of Spain throughout the three-week race.
Vuelta a España 2022 route
Stage one | Utrecht to Utrecht | 23.3km TTT |
Stage two | Hertogenbosch to Utrecht | 175.1km flat |
Stage three | Breda to Breda | 193.2km flat |
Rest day | ||
Stage four | Vitoria-Gasteiz to Laguardia | 153.5km hilly |
Stage five | Irun to Bilbao | 187km hilly |
Stage six | Bilbao to Pico Jano | 180km mountains |
Stage seven | Camargo to Cistierna | 190.1km hilly |
Stage eight | Pola de Laviana to Colláu Fancuay | 154.5km mountains |
Stage nine | Villaviciosa to Les Praeres | 175.5km mountains |
Rest day | ||
Stage ten | Elche to Alicante | 31.1km ITT |
Stage 11 | ElPozo Alimentación to Cabo de Gata | 193km flat |
Stage 12 | Salobreña to Peñas Blancas | 195.5km mountains |
Stage 13 | Ronda to Montilla | 171km flat |
Stage 14 | Montoro to Sierra de La Pandera | 160.3km mountains |
Stage 15 | Martos to Sierra Nevada | 148.1km mountains |
Rest day | ||
Stage 16 | Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares | 188.9km flat |
Stage 17 | Aracena to Monasterio de Tentudía | 160km hilly |
Stage 18 | Trujillo to Alto de Piorna | 191.7km mountains |
Stage 19 | Talavera de la Reina to Talavera de la Reina | 132.7km hilly |
Stage 20 | Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada | 175.5km mountains |
Stage 21 | Las Rozas to Madrid | 100.5km flat |
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) Team Jumbo-Visma
2020: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
2021: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
Latest
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Vuelta a España 2022 start list: Ineos Grenadiers, Jumbo-Visma, Bora-Hansgrohe all confirm lineups
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Vuelta a España 2022 route: Eight summit finishes, Sierra Nevada and the return to Madrid
A stage-by-stage guide for the full route of the 2022 Vuelta a España
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