Vuelta a España 2025 stage 19 preview: Mainly flat terrain deliver palatable territory for sprinters

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Rueda begins mainly flat 161.9km route to uphill finish in Guijuelo

BILBAO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 03: Mads Pedersen of Denmark and Team Lidl - Trek - Green Points Jersey attacks during the La Vuelta - 80th Tour of Spain 2025, Stage 11 a 157.4km stage from Bilbao to Bilbao / #UCIWT / on September 03, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Mads Pedersen excels on uphill finishes (Image credit: Getty Images)
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  • Start time: 13:50 CEST
  • Finish time: 17:21 CEST
  • How to watch stage 19 of the Vuelta a España
  • Favourites to win the stage: Mads Pedersen, Ben Turner, Ethan Vernon, Jasper Philipsen

Friday marks the second-to-last chance for the sprinters to take advantage of flat terrain, as stage 19 crosses the high plains of the Castile-Leon region.

Along the way one intermediate sprint provided rewards of points and bonus seconds, with 59k remaining from that point in Salamanca. The wind could be an obstacle for the final stretch, which does have several small uncategorised hills to cross before the 2.3km push into Guijuelo, averaging 3%.

The finish town of Guijuelo serves up some of the country's best serrano hams, but it also serves as the cue for the 11th and final mountaintop finish of the Vuelta on stage 20. While race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), separated by just 40 seconds, will settle accounts a day later, look for points leader Mads Pedersen to take a second victory, sixth individual top 10, at this Grand Tour.

Stage profile for the 2025 Vuelta a España

Stage 19 profile for the 2025 Vuelta a España (Image credit: Lavuelta.es)

Climbs

  • None

Sprints

  • Salamanca, km. 103 - time bonus
Jackie Tyson
Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).

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