Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol 2024
Latest News from the Race
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Ruta del Sol: Maxim Van Gils takes overall victory in time trial at disrupted stage race
Juan Ayuso second, Antonio Tiberi third after cancellations reduce five-day stage race to just 4.9km time trial -
Ruta del Sol reduced to a 4.9 km time trial due to farmer protests and police shortages
Weekend stages scrapped despite changes to route -
Ruta del Sol shortened to three days as stage 2 also cancelled due to protests
Lack of police due to farmer demonstrations slashes ProSeries race
Date | Wednesday February 14 to Sunday February 18 |
Start location | Almuñecar |
Finish location | La Linea de la Concepción |
Distance | 850.2 km |
Previous edition | 2023 Vuelta a Andalucía Ruta Ciclista del Sol |
Previous winner | Tadej Pogačar |
99 years old and counting, the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol has long been one of cycling's best-known early-season events. Typically warm weather in southern Spain in early February has always proved popular for riders looking to hone their Classics form as well as claim a victory in a race with a long and prestigious history of top-name winners, most recently Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in 2023.
With a name frequently shortened to 'Ruta del Sol' or even just 'Ruta', the five-day race combines one or two flat stages with numerous hilly stages and short, punchy summit finishes. Occasionally, it includes a short individual time trial or heads into the mountains of Sierra Nevada for a summit finish.
Running concurrently with the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, in recent years Andalucia's increasing preference for a tougher route has tended to attract more allrounders and out-and-out climbers than Classics specialists to its field of favourites. Thus its history of winners includes historic one-day stars like Freddy Maertens, Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel, as well as stage racers of the calibre of Chris Froome and Miguel Indurain.
Alejandro Valverde holds the current record for overall victories in Andalucia - five - whilst in 2023 Pogačar succeeded in winning three stages of a possible five en route to a crushing outright triumph, leading the race from beginning to end.
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2024 Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol 2024 with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol route
The 2024 Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol kicks off with a very hilly stage in the province of Granada between Almuñecar and Cadiar, although the final categorized climb is some 50 kilometres from the finish.
Stage 2 should see an uphill battle emerge on the cobbled slopes at Calatrava castle in Alcaudete, whilst stage 3's much flatter terrain could well conclude in a bunch sprint.
Stage 4 features a technical finishing circuit tackled four times in the town of Lucena, while stage 5 will bring down the curtain on the 2024 edition with another flat finish in the southerly city of La Línea de la Concepción.
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol start list
Data powered by FirstCycling
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol Contenders
Up-and-coming Spanish talent Juan Ayuso is currently the leading Spanish favourite, with two former overall winners, teammate Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) and Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) also in the mix.
2023 Tour de France Alpine stage winner Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and his new teammate Victor Lafay could prove to be key opponents, while Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) raced strongly in the first part of 2022 and 2023 respectively, each winning an edition of the AIUIa Tour and will be names to watch in southern Spain this February.
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol Schedule
Date | Stage | Start time (CET) | Finish time (CET) |
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Feb 14, 2024 | Stage 1: Almuñecar - Cadiar, 162.3km | 11:10 | 15:30 |
Feb 15, 2024 | Stage 2: Vélez-Malaga - Alcaudete 192.2km | 11:25 | 15:30 |
Feb 16, 2024 | Stage 3: Arjona - Pozoblanco 161km | 11:00 | 15:05 |
Feb 17, 2024 | Stage 4: Córdoba - Lucena 166.7km | 11:05 | 15:15 |
Feb 18, 2024 | Stage 5: Benahavís - La Línea de la Concepción 168km | 10:55 | 15:15 |
Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol 2024 teams
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Bahrain Victorious
- Burgos-BH
- Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
- Kern Pharma
- Euskatel-Euskadi
- Lotto-Dstny
- Movistar
- Flanders-Baloise
- Polti-Kometa
- UAE Team Emirates
Races
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Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol 202414 February 2024 - 18 February 2024 | Spain | 2.Pro
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Stage 1 | Almuñécar - Cádiar2024-02-14 162.3km
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Stage 2 | Vélez-Málaga - Alcaudete2024-02-15 192.2km
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Stage 4 | Córdoba - Lucena2024-02-17 166.7km
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Stage 5 | Benahavís - La Línea de la Concepción2024-02-18 168km
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Latest Content on the Race
![Police have been diverted from races to control protesting farmers across Spain](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cPFmXeVFTMPtFCrVExQvyB-320-80.jpg)
Ruta del Sol reduced to a 4.9 km time trial due to farmer protests and police shortages
By Stephen Farrand published
News Weekend stages scrapped despite changes to route
![Ruta del Sol](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K4etdfUHfVg83fAc5Ey5Fb-320-80.jpg)
Ruta del Sol shortened to three days as stage 2 also cancelled due to protests
By Laura Weislo published
News Lack of police due to farmer demonstrations slashes ProSeries race
![Lawson Craddock (Jayco AlUla) in the breakaway on stage 17 at the 2023 Tour de France](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XA6zkjGNXmaU272gYTjQ47-320-80.jpg)
Lawson Craddock part of engine room for Jayco AlUla at Ruta del Sol
By Jackie Tyson published
News Texan working towards 11th Grand Tour start in summer at Tour de France and doesn't mind 'grunt work'
![Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol 2023 69th Edition 1st stage Puente de Genave Santiago de la Espada 179 km 15022023 Tadej Pogacar SLO UAE Team Emirates photo Luis Angel GomezSprintCyclingAgency2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dSw79ZVECJYmiEYSECsUaE-320-80.jpg)
'I'm a little surprised by my form' - Tadej Pogacar dominant once more in Andalucia
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Slovenian says he didn't expect to two wins from two days to open his 2023 account
![CHICLANA DE SEGURA SPAIN FEBRUARY 20 Lennard Kmna of Germany and Team Bora Hansgrohe celebrates winning the stage five on the podium ceremony after the 68th Vuelta A Andalucia Ruta Del Sol 2022 Stage 5 a 1644km stage from Huesa to Chiclana De Segura 870m 68RdS on February 20 2022 in Chiclana De Segura Spain Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g3ihG6bnXJyvMBKTzXRzwP-320-80.jpg)
New Bora-Hansgrohe strategy pays off for Ruta del Sol stage winner Kämna
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News 'We are no longer fighting for eighth on GC' says Bora-Hansgrohe rider who promises more aggressive riding
![CHICLANA DE SEGURA SPAIN FEBRUARY 20 Wouter Poels of Netherlands and Team Bahrain Victorious celebrates winning the yellow leader jersey on the podium ceremony after the 68th Vuelta A Andalucia Ruta Del Sol 2022 Stage 5 a 1644km stage from Huesa to Chiclana De Segura 870m 68RdS on February 20 2022 in Chiclana De Segura Spain Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4mizW4a2juKJEyQwXzPLKG-320-80.jpg)
Poels hails 'special' support from Haig, Landa, Caruso in Ruta del Sol victory
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News Bahrain Victorious fend off late attacks from López and Yates in Chiclana de Segura
![BAZA SPAIN FEBRUARY 19 Simon Yates of United Kingdom and Team BikeExchange Jayco attacks in the breakaway during the 68th Vuelta A Andalucia Ruta Del Sol 2022 Stage 4 a 167km stage from Cllar Vega to Baza 836m 68RdS on February 19 2022 in Baza Spain Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5RgwK8K5uDPsdiy4zmRgsH-320-80.jpg)
Simon Yates says 'I'll always give it a crack' after relentless day at Ruta del Sol
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News Briton very active in GC break and keeps options open overall ahead of final day summit finish
![ALCALA LA REAL SPAIN FEBRUARY 17 Ben Alexander Oconnor of Australia and Ag2R Citroen Team crosses the finishing line during the 68th Vuelta A Andalucia Ruta Del Sol 2022 Stage 2 a 1506km stage from Archidona to Alcal La Real 982m 68RdS on February 17 2022 in Alcala la Real Spain Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7XtbqCZgUaTowEQ4R6pLCA-320-80.jpg)
O'Connor: high-voltage Ruta del Sol finale was 'racing people want to see'
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
News 'I picked a good move, just not the right one,' says Australian
Top News on the Race
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New Bora-Hansgrohe strategy pays off for Ruta del Sol stage winner Kämna
'We are no longer fighting for eighth on GC' says Bora-Hansgrohe rider who promises more aggressive riding -
Poels hails 'special' support from Haig, Landa, Caruso in Ruta del Sol victory
Bahrain Victorious fend off late attacks from López and Yates in Chiclana de Segura -
Simon Yates says 'I'll always give it a crack' after relentless day at Ruta del Sol
Briton very active in GC break and keeps options open overall ahead of final day summit finish
-
O'Connor: high-voltage Ruta del Sol finale was 'racing people want to see'
'I picked a good move, just not the right one,' says Australian -
Poels grasps opportunity to break three-year win drought at Ruta del Sol
'Every opportunity you get in racing you just have to take' says new race leader with final day summit finish left to race -
Pozzovivo making up for lost ground at Ruta del Sol after last-minute signing
39-year-old Italian on first race with new Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team
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Mikel Landa looking to tackle Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 2022
Spanish GC racer takes unanticipated key part in late action of Ruta del Sol stage -
Sheffield claims maiden pro road victory for Ineos Grenadiers
19-year-old makes last kilometre dash in tumultuous finale at Ruta del Sol -
Human Powered Health and Gazprom quit Ruta del Sol after multiple COVID-19 cases
QuickStep-AlphaVinyl and Lotto Soudal lose key riders before UAE Tour
Related Features
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