Jul 26, 2022 Canyon.com
Jul 26, 2022 Canyon.com

La Vuelta a España Route 2022

We take a closer look at the Vuelta a España 2022 route including the stages and how you can watch on TV.

La Vuelta a España Route 2022 La Vuelta a España Route 2022 | © Movistar team

The Vuelta a España 2022 begins on Friday 19 August and ends on Sunday 11 September 2022. It is the third and final Grand Tour in the men's road racing calendar.

Let’s look at the route and stages for this year's race and tell you how you can watch it on TV.

Contents:

Where does the Vuelta start?

Just like the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España mixes up where it starts every year. This year, the Vuelta will begin in Utrecht in the Netherlands. The country's rich cycling history makes it the perfect host for the start of the Spanish race. Utrecht has now been the host of all three Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia in 2010 and the Tour de France in 2015.

The general classification teams will look to secure a stronghold in the opening time trial. Expect to see former time trial world champion Rohan Dennis or current bronze medallist Remco Evenepoel setting the benchmark times.

La Vuelta is typically a race for climbers. High altitudes, brutally steep gradients and heat often mean the heavier sprinters struggle to go the distance.

But the flat terrain and relatively cooler temperatures of the first few stages in the Netherlands will give the sprinting teams a chance for glory. Possibly even a shot at wearing the leader’s red jersey.

Read more about the jerseys of La Vuelta

La Vuelta a España Route 2022 La Vuelta a España Route 2022 | © Movistar team

How many stages does La Vuelta have?

The Vuelta a España has 21 stages split across three weeks. The race also features three rest days as opposed to the usual two. This is to allow time for teams to transfer between the Netherlands and the Basque Country in Spain.

Vuelta a España Route 2022

Once the race returns home, the route focuses its stages on the northern, central and southern of Spain.

Key route information:

  • Total distance: 3280 km
  • 6 flat stages
  • 2 flat stages with summit finishes
  • 4 hilly stages
  • 7 mountain stages
  • 1 team trial
  • 1 individual time trial
  • 3 rest days


During the 21 stages, the peloton will visit world famous regions such as the Picos de Europa in the northern part of Spain and Sierra Nevada in the southern part.

Vuelta a España 2022: First week

For the first time in over a decade, the three Basque Country provinces will feature on the race. On arrival in Spain, the race travels through this beautiful region taking in the northern mountains. Though they are classified as "medium mountains" stages by the race organisation, mere mortals would consider them extremely difficult.

Stage 6 is the first mountain stage of the 2022 Vuelta a España. Look out for the general classification teams making their moves between Bilbao and Pico Jano.

Stage 8 will be one not to be missed as the peloton climbs Colláu Fancuaya. One website describes Colláu Fancuaya as "inhumane" due to its narrow and steep nature. With ramps of up to 16%, this summit finish will be explosive.

Ahead of the second rest day, riders will be treated to another summit finish on stage 9. Named Nava, this 4 km wall will force riders to use every ounce of energy they have left in order to survive the stage.

La Vuelta a España Route 2022 La Vuelta a España Route 2022 | © Movistar team

Vuelta a España 2022: Second week

The second week of the Vuelta a España starts in the southern coast of Spain. After the second rest day of the race, the riders are 'eased' back into racing with an individual time trial. The 31 km course is slightly downhill, so should provide some fast finishing times.

Following this timed effort, long but flat stages follow providing opportunities for the sprinters to win and claim the green jersey. Stage 11 begins in Elpozo Alimentacion and the riders will huge the coastline to Cabo de Gata. The longest stage of the race (195.5 km) will have a backdrop of sea views from Salobrena and Peñas Blancas. After stage 12, it's inland to the Sierra Nevada for more mountains.



Vuelta a España 2022: Third week

The third and final week of the Vuelta a España 2022 will be far from easy. After transferring from the Sierra Nevada to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, stage 16 is the final chance for the sprinters before Madrid.

The breakaway will have its chance the following day on stage 17 during a lumpy, leg-busting stage in Extremadura. The leading rider(s) will have to save some energy for the final climb up Monasterio de Tentudía.

The penultimate stage of the race concludes in Puerto de Navacerrada giving the general classification contenders the final opportunity to shake up the overall standings. If there are just a few seconds between the podium riders, we could see quite an exciting stage unfold.

Stage 21 of the race is a flat 100.5 km lap of Madrid. There will be a sprint finish in the capital city of Spain ahead of the prize giving ceremony afterwards.

Riders to watch during the Vuelta a España 2022

The final Grand Tour of the year is also the final chance for the all-round riders to seal their success for the 2022 season.



Alejandro Valverde - Movistar Team


As the oldest rider in the WorldTour, Alejandro Valverde is racing this Vuelta a España as his last race before retiring. The 42 year old Spanish veteran has enjoyed twenty years of success despite a troubled past.

We expect Alejandro to lay it all on the line for his final tour of Spain on board his special edition Canyon Ultimate.

La Vuelta a España Route 2022 La Vuelta a España Route 2022

Enric Mas - Movistar Team

At the other end of the youth spectrum, Enric Mas is the leader for Movistar's Vuelta a España team. After a stellar performance in the Tour de France, the 27 year old will aim for the podium during his home race.

La Vuelta a España Route 2022 La Vuelta a España Route 2022

Jay Vine - Alpecin-Deceuninck

This young Australian has surprised everyone over the last couple of years of his career. Having recently come second on GC during the Tour of Norway, Vine is looking for Grand Tour glory. He came third during a stage of the Vuelta a España last year and has impressed with podium positions through the 2022 season.

How can I watch the Vuelta a España 2022 on TV?

You can watch the Vuelta a Espana on the following channels:

  • Europe and SE Asia: Eurosport and GCN Race Pass
  • US: NBC Sports and Universal Sports Network
  • Canada: FloBikes
  • Australia: SBS

Who will win La Vuelta?

As we get closer to the start of the race, we want to know who you think will be the winner at the Vuelta a España 2022. Will 2022 be the year Alejandro Valverde gets one last chance to put his hands in the air between the Netherlands and Madrid? Tag us in your predictions on social media.

Interested in cheering on your favourite Canyon team? We've got the team kit you need to show your support.

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