2016 Vuelta a España Race Preview
The details of this year's 2016 Vuelta a España are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The 2016 Vuelta a España promises to be one of the most compelling editions of the Spanish grand tour in recent memory, with a stunning route and a field packed with genuine contenders ready to battle across three weeks of racing through the Iberian Peninsula.
The race gets underway with an individual time trial in the streets of Ourense in Galicia, a punchy opening test that should establish early gaps and set the tone for the weeks ahead. From there the peloton will wind its way south and east through some of Spain's most dramatic landscapes, with race organizers once again demonstrating their appetite for brutal summit finishes and demanding mountain stages.
The route features several altitude finishes that will define the overall classification, including appearances at Peña Cabarga, the Lagos de Covadonga, and the fearsome Alto de l'Angliru, one of the most savage climbs in professional cycling. The Angliru's savage gradients, which regularly exceed twenty percent, have historically broken the strongest of riders and will almost certainly play a decisive role in determining the final winner in Madrid.
Chris Froome arrives as one of the headline favorites following his dominant Tour de France victory, and the Team Sky leader will be looking to add the Spanish title to his palmares for the first time. However he will face fierce competition from Nairo Quintana, the Colombian climber who took victory on this race two years ago and who looks ideally suited to the mountainous parcours. Alberto Contador will be desperate to shine on home roads, while Joaquim Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde will both carry the hopes of Spanish fans.
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