Vuelta a España

Last Updated: 3 february 2025

About the Tour of Spain

The Vuelta a España (the Tour of Spain) is a road race and one of the three Grand Tours, the most prestigious series in road cycling.

It has been held annually since 1995 in Spain and Andorra in August and September.

Official website

2025 Vuelta a España

The 2025 Vuelta a España, the 80th edition, will take place from 23 August to 14 September 2025. The route will cover the roads of Spain, France, Andorra and Italy, offering participants varied and challenging stages.

Participants

The world’s leading cycling teams and riders are expected to participate, aiming to win this prestigious competition. Potential participants include titled athletes such as Primoz Roglič, who has previously won the Vuelta overall classification three times.

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Primoz Roglič, a Slovenian rider, is one of the main contenders for victory, given his previous successes in the Vuelta. However, he may face competition from other strong riders, whose names will become known closer to the start of the race.

Interesting facts

Anniversary issue: In 2025, the Vuelta will celebrate its 90th anniversary, which gives the race special significance.
International route: The race will start for the first time in Italy, in the Piedmont region, adding an international flavour and new challenges for the participants.

History of the bike race

The Tour of Spain was first held in 1935. Until 1995, the race was held in May.

The boom of the Vuelta a España came much later, unlike the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Nevertheless, the Spanish bicycle race managed to gain popularity. Furthermore, it surpasses the other stages of the Grand Tour in terms of difficulty.

The first Vuelta a España in 1935 involved 50 cyclists. The route ran from Madrid (Spain) to Valladolid (Mexico) and consisted of 14 stages, totalling 3245 km. Gustaaf Deloor became the first Spanish cycling champion. The following year he repeated the result, with his brother Alfons Deloor coming in second.

Due to the Spanish Civil War, the Tour of Spain had to be interrupted for four years.

In the history of professional cycling, only seven cyclists have managed to win all three stages of the Grand Tour.

The leaders of the cycling race wear a jersey of a certain colour to distinguish themselves from the rest of the competitors. The colours of the Vuelta a España leader’s jersey have changed several times:

• from 1935 it was orange;
• in 1941 it was white;
• from 1942 to orange again;
• 1945 – 1950 was white with a horizontal red stripe;
• 1955 – 1998 was yellow (with the exception of 1977 – the colour was turned orange again);
• from 1998 to 2010 it was golden;
• from 2010 to the present time the colour remains red.

 Previous bike race winners

2026 Vuelta a España

Following the 2025 Vuelta, the next race will traditionally take place in 2026. The dates and route will be announced by the organisers closer to the start of the season.

The 2026 Vuelta a España promises to be a thrilling event in the world of cycling, bringing together the best riders and offering spectators unforgettable moments over three weeks of competition.

Keep an eye on the dates of bicycle races and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.