Ruta del Sol

published 7 May 2021

Where: Andalusia, Spain

When: February 19-23 2020

Rank: UCI 2.1 Europe Tour

The Vuelta a Andalucia, more commonly known as the Ruta del Sol, often features a start list packed with Grand Tour talent looking to get some early-season kilometres in their legs.

It was first held in 1925 and gained 2.1 status in 2005. Valverde tops the winners board, with 5 wins. Spain dominate the race proceedings, having taken 37 wins over the history of the race.

The Ruta del Sol sets off with a race featuring more than 3,700 metres, while the Queen Stage is played out on Friday. Running from Jaén to Úbeda, the 175 kilometres race takes in four climbs. An ITT with a few uphill kicks on the last day of action decides on the winner.

Jakob Fuglsang won the 2019 edition of the Ruta del Sol ahead of Ion Izagirre and Steven Kruijswijk. The 2020 edition is likely to see Fuglsang return, alongside other contenders such as Valverde, Landa and Latour.

Stages:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

1	we 19-2	Alhaurín de la Torre – Grazalema	173.9	mountains	Row 0 - Cell 5	Row 0 - Cell 6	Row 0 - Cell 7
2	th 20-2	Sevilla – Iznájar	198.7	hills	Row 1 - Cell 5	Row 1 - Cell 6	Row 1 - Cell 7
3	fri 21-2	Jaén – Úbeda	175	mountains	Row 2 - Cell 5	Row 2 - Cell 6	Row 2 - Cell 7
4	sa 22-2	Villanueva Mesía – Granada	126	mountains	Row 3 - Cell 5	Row 3 - Cell 6	Row 3 - Cell 7
5	su 23-2	Mijas – Mijas	13	ITT

Key Info: Start List | TV Guide

Previous editions: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011

External links: Official website (es) | Official twitter feed (es)

'A big waste of time’: Inside the stage race with only one stage

The Ruta del Sol went from five to one stage thanks to farmer protests, creating an odd situation

Spanish stage race reduced to single 5km time trial due to farmer protests

The five-day Ruta del Sol was won by Maxim van Gils on Friday, beating Juan Ayuso

By Adam Becket Published 16 February 24
Ineos Grenadiers' Magnus Sheffield takes first professional victory with stage three win at Ruta del Sol

The 19-year-old secured his first pro win in just his ninth start for Ineos Grenadiers

By Ryan Dabbs Published 18 February 22

Alessandro Covi wins stage two of Ruta del Sol with late attack

The UAE Team Emirates rider left the rest of the bunch behind on a cobbled finish in Andalucia.

By Pete Trifunovic Published 17 February 22
Rune Herregodts secures surprise breakaway victory at the Ruta del Sol 2022

The Belgian held off the breakaway to move into the overall lead of the Andalucian stage race

By Pete Trifunovic Published 16 February 22
Ethan Hayter takes final stage of Ruta del Sol 2021, as Miguel Ángel López wins overall

The Brit took another victory from climber’s sprint finish as two riders went down next to him

By Alex Ballinger Published 22 May 21

Riders delay start of Ruta del Sol stage to protest ‘lack of attention’ given to their safety

The professional rider union said the peloton is concerns about the choice of routes, gravel descents, and large potholes

By Alex Ballinger Published 21 May 21
Miguel Ángel López hits back to take race lead on stage three of Ruta del Sol 2021

The Colombian took the race lead from Ethan Hayter on the uphill finish to Villarrodrigo

By Alex Ballinger Published 20 May 21
Dylan Teuns wins stage five time trial as Jakob Fuglsang wraps up Ruta del Sol overall victory

The Dane finished second to Teuns by less than a second on his way to sealing the overall win

By Jonny Long Published 23 February 20

Jack Haig outsprints Jakob Fuglsang and Mikel Landa to stage four victory at Ruta del Sol

The Australian beat the two heavyweights to win the queen stage of the Spanish race

By Jonny Long Published 22 February 20
Jakob Fuglsang profits from Dylan Teuns' wrong turn to win stage three of Ruta del Sol

A mistake from Dylan Teuns and Jack Haig in the final couple hundred metres cost both riders their chance of victory

By Jonny Long Published 21 February 20
Jakob Fuglsang powers clear of Mikel Landa to take thrilling stage one of Ruta del Sol 2020

Jakob Fuglsang powered clear of Mikel Landa to take victory on his first race day of the year on stage one of the Ruta del Sol 2020.

By Alex Ballinger Published 19 February 20

Tim Wellens extends lead at Ruta del Sol 2019 with stage three time trial win

The Belgian beat second place Jakob Fuglsang by two seconds

By Richard Windsor Published 22 February 19
Tim Wellens overpowers rivals to win opening stage of Ruta del Sol 2019

Tim Wellens opened his Ruta del Sol title defence with an emphatic victory on the opening stage.

By Alex Ballinger Published 20 February 19
'Super bad for cycling... it's a shame he's racing': Tony Martin and others react to Chris Froome's return

Riders at the start of the Ruta del Sol had mixed reactions to Chris Froome's return to racing with an anti-doping investigation into his AAF still ongoing.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 15 February 18

Thomas Boudat wins stage one of Ruta del Sol in photo finish as Chris Froome returns to action

Thomas Boudat (Direct-Energie) won the opening stage of the Ruta del Sol as he out-sprinted Sacha Modolo in a tight photo finish in Mijas.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 14 February 18
Chris Froome: 'When the facts are out people will see things from my point of view'

Chris Froome has said that he believes that when all the facts about his salbutamol case are made public, people will see the case from his point of view.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 14 February 18
Ruta del Sol 2018: Everything you need to know about Chris Froome's return to racing

Full details about the 2018 Ruta del Sol including stage details and profile, live TV coverage, and start list as Chris Froome returns to racing.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 14 February 18

Team Sky announce that Chris Froome will start his 2018 season at Ruta del Sol next week

Chris Froome will start his 2018 season at the Ruta del Sol while lawyers and medical experts continue to work on the ongoing salbutamol case.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 5 February 18
'This has to stop!' - Riders slam drafting behind motorbikes in races

Riders have take to Twitter to voice their anger over motorbikes offering a draft to riders in the Ruta del Sol, Volta ao Algarve and Tour of Oman this week.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 17 February 17
Thibaut Pinot outguns Alberto Contador to win Ruta del Sol queen stage

The queen stage of the Ruta del Sol saw victory for FDJ's Ruta del Sol, who paced himself perfectly to overhaul Alberto Contador in the final metres.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 16 February 17

Tim Wellens wins Ruta del Sol stage five from breakaway as Valverde seals GC

Valverde stayed safe and finished with the same time as his nearest rival in the overall, Alberto Contador

By Richard Windsor Published 19 February 17
Matteo Trentin wins stage five of Ruta del Sol as Jakob Fugslang confirms GC triumph

Mitchelton-Scott's Matteo Trentin comfortably won an uphill sprint on stage five of Ruta del Sol as Jakob Fugslang sealed his overall win.

By Richard Windsor Published 24 February 19
Ben Swift takes Ruta del Sol overall lead as Oscar Gatto wins third stage

Team Sky's Ben Swift takes the overall lead at the Ruta del Sol after finishing second behind Oscar Gatto on stage three of the race

By Stuart Clarke Published 19 February 16

Tim Wellens wins Ruta del Sol stage four and takes race lead from Wout Poels

Belgian Tim Wellens puts himself in a strong position in the general classification of the 2018 Ruta del Sol with just the final time trial to go

By Nigel Wynn Published 17 February 18
Chris Froome ready to 'empty the tank' in Ruta del Sol final time trial

Team Sky's Chris Froome says that the overall win in the Ruta del Sol is out of his reach, but he'll be supporting team-mate Wout Poels and put in an effort on the final stage time trial

By Nigel Wynn Published 17 February 18
Valverde gets better of Wiggins and Sky in Ruta del Sol

Movistar's leader Valverde takes the win at the Ruta del Sol as Team Sky place four riders in the top ten - Wiggins sixth fastest on the same time as Geraint Thomas - Richie Porte in eighth place

By Simon Richardson Published 19 February 14

Alejandro Valverde takes victory at end of aggressive day of racing at Ruta del Sol

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) emerged victorious from stage one of the Ruta del Sol, after a day of relentless attacking from the climbing stars.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 15 February 17
Alejandro Valverde overhauls Tejay van Garderen to win Ruta del Sol

General classification of the Ruta del Sol in Spain is settled on the final climb, as Alejandro Valverde takes the stage win and GC title

By Nigel Wynn Published 21 February 16
Alejandro Valverde wins again at Ruta del Sol

By Cycling Weekly Published 20 February 14

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