The theme of the 2023 Vuelta a España is climbing, with only three truly 'flat' stages - 7, 12, 19 and the final day in Madrid, and punishing ascents such as the Col du Tourmalet in the same day as the hors categorie Col d'Aubisque, Col du Soulor and Col de Spandelles, and a short but frantic stage finishing on the brutally steep Altu de l’Angliru.
In total, 10 stages will end in uphill finishes, including the five unprecedented ascents, for the Vuelta, of the Arinsal in Andorra, le Tourmalet, Larra -Belagua, Bejes and La Cruz de Linares.
In addition to the team time trial, and the flat stages. the 3153.8km route also includes two flat stages with high-altitude finales, six hilly stages, seven mountain stages and one individual time trial. From the start in Barcelona to the finish in Madrid, Cyclingnews has all the route details.
While Remco Evenepoel all but won the 2022 Vuelta a España on the time trial stage in Benidorm, this year's mid-race 25-kilometre chrono in Valladolid is less likely to shape the race.
A fairly flat team time trial kicks off the racing on August 26 where time gaps are expected to be small. The overall standings will explode on the 158.5km stage 3 for the first summit finale at Arinsal in Andorra, preceded by the equally tough Coll d'Ordino crested around 20km to go.
If the sprinters’ teams manage to control the breakaways, hilly stages in the first week of racing, stages 4 and 5 could also come down to a bunch sprint.
The climb up to the Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre becomes tougher in its final slope of the Pico del Buitre for the finale of 183.5km stage 6 could well mark a change in the overall leader as demonstrated in 2019.
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After a flat stage 7, the climbing returns for the intense 165km stage 8 with a climb of the demanding slopes of Xorret de Catí with grades up to 22% before the 3km downhill to the finish. To close out the first week of racing, a steady climb to the line on the Alto de Caravaca de la Cruz on hilly 184.5km stage 9.
Stage 12, though considered a flat stage could wreak havoc as echelons are frequent whenever the Vuelta goes to Zaragoza. If this happens, it will be a dangerous day for the riders who don’t handle this type of situation well.
The peloton heads into France for the punishing foray in the Pyrenees on stage 13. It consists of over 4,000 metres of elevation gain over 135km and will not offer a single kilometre of respite. It will be demanding right from the start, with the ascent of the Portalet. Then, the climbs of the Col d’Aubisque, the Col de Spandelles and finally the ascent of the Col de Tourmalet, a first for the Vuelta.
Before enjoying the second rest day, the riders will face very another demanding mountain stage 14 with two hors category climbs of Col Hourcére and Puerto de Larrau and a never seen before the final climb of Puerto de Belagua, followed by hilly stage 15, another stage favourable to the breakaway.
Riders return with a short but furious stage to Bejes on stage 16 where the uphill finish on the category 2 climb is only 5 kilometres long but includes ramps of up to 15%.
Stage 17, with its cruel finish on the Angliru with 20% slopes in the final two kilometres, will be a decisive one for the race’s final outcome. Riders will face two category 1 climbs, the Alto de la Colladiella and the Alto del Cordal, before arriving at the feared slopes of Angliru on the 124.5km stage.
A new summit finish on the Puerto de la Cruz de Linares on stage 18 combined with tired legs will make for unpredictable outcomes.
There's one more truly flat stage before a 208.4km long lumpy stage 20 to Guadarrama that offers little chance for respite. The parade into Madrid will bring welcome relief and a new Vuelta champion.
Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.
