2018 Vuelta a España Race Preview
The details of this year's 2018 Vuelta a España are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The 2018 Vuelta a España promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated editions of the Spanish grand tour in recent memory, with a demanding route and a stellar cast of riders set to battle it out over three grueling weeks across Spain.
The race gets underway in Málaga with a team time trial, giving the bigger and more powerful squads an early opportunity to set the tone. From there the peloton heads through Andalusia before making its way north through some of the most spectacular and challenging terrain the Iberian Peninsula has to offer. The organizers have once again put together a route that rewards the climbers, with multiple mountaintop finishes scattered throughout the three weeks.
Chris Froome arrives as perhaps the most intriguing figure in the startlist. The four-time Tour de France champion has never won the Vuelta and will be hungry to add the Spanish race to his palmarès, particularly after his remarkable Giro d'Italia victory earlier in the season. Should he succeed, he would become only the third rider in history to hold all three grand tour titles simultaneously, a truly extraordinary achievement. His Sky team will be formidable in support.
Defending champion Chris Froome's teammate and fellow Briton Simon Yates presents a fascinating wildcard. The young Mitchelton-Scott rider has shown tremendous improvement and his climbing ability on the steep ramps that the Vuelta typically favors could make him a genuine contender for the overall title.
Nairo Quintana represents perhaps the most credible threat to Sky's dominance. The Colombian climber from Movistar has an outstanding record in this race, having won it in 2016, and his team possesses the strength in depth to control races and set up their leaders on the crucial mountain stages. Quintana thrives at altitude and on the steep gradients that will feature repeatedly throughout the parcours.
Vincenzo Nibali is another name that demands respect. The Sicilian champion, riding for Bahrain-Merida, combines technical descending with genuine climbing strength and his experience across all three grand tours makes him dangerous in a race as unpredictable as the Vuelta.
Steven Kruijswijk of LottoNL-Jumbo has continued his development as a serious grand tour contender and cannot be overlooked, while Alejandro Valverde, despite his advancing years, remains a potent force on home roads and will carry the hopes of many Spanish fans eager to see a local winner.
The route itself features several key stages that are likely to define the overall classification. The summit finishes at altitude will separate the genuine contenders from those lacking the oxygen-carrying capacity to compete at the very highest level, and the accumulated fatigue of racing in the Spanish summer heat will test even the strongest riders to their limits.
The time trial stages will give the more complete riders an opportunity to gain precious seconds, though with the overall character of the route leaning heavily toward the pure climbers, those who excel against the clock but struggle on the steepest gradients may find themselves unable to hold on as the race reaches its decisive mountain stages.
Three weeks of racing through Spain culminating in Madrid awaits, and with so many quality riders targeting the overall victory, the 2018 Vuelta a España looks set to deliver drama, controversy and moments of genuine sporting brilliance.
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