How to watch and follow the 2016 Vuelta a Espana

The 71st Vuelta a Espana starts this Saturday with a 27.8km team time trial from Balneario Laias to Castrelo de Mino in Galicia with general classification heavy weights Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) aiming for the victory and Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) and Steven Kuijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) among the challengers.

The GC is likely to be decided on the ten summit finishes and the stage 19 time trial from Xabia to Calp, although as Contador's stage 17 attack in 2012 proved, the Vuelta can be won and lost at any moment.

Cyclingnews is counting down to the start of the Vuelta with daily features that will conclude Friday.

Read More on this story:

• Vuelta a Espana 2016 race preview - how brightly will the stars shine?
• 2016 Vuelta a Espana start list
• Ten summit finishes for Vuelta a Espana in 2016
• Ezaro, Naranco and Camperona climbs to feature in 2016 Vuelta a Espana
• 2016 Vuelta a Espana to feature 'decisive' time trial in Alicante

Cyclingnews will have live coverage of all 21 stages with daily race reports, results, photo galleries and video highlights. You will also find exclusive news articles on Cyclingnews across the three weeks from our staff reporters on the race, so make sure to bookmark the Vuelta a Espana race page, including stage previews and profiles,by clicking here.

Click here to listen to our special Vuelta a Espana podcast. We speak to our resident correspondent in Spain, Alasdair Fotheringham, with Matt White – the man who masterminded Esteban Chaves' second place at the Giro d'Italia and Adam Yates' fourth overall the Tour de France. We speak to Steven de Jongh, the team director looking to close out his time at Tinkoff by helping Contador win his fourth Vuelta crown. 

You'll also be able to follow the Vuelta on the Tour Tracker which can be downloaded from either the iTunes store for Apple or from Google Play for Android devices. You can also follow Cyclingnews on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for complete and comprehensive professional cycling coverage.

The Vuelta will also be broadcast around the world on television, via different television channels. Check local listing for specific times of television coverage across the Vuelta.

Watch this video to see our list of 10 riders to watch at the Vuelta. Click here to subscribe here to our Youtube channel.