Vuelta a España 2024: A very tough Vuelta prepared for climbers: this description is perhaps the closest to what will happen starting on August 17th. The 79th edition of Spain’s premier cycling event will begin with three days in the neighboring country, Portugal, and will total 3,265 km.
Start in Portugal
The Vuelta a España 2024 will have its start in Lisbon, next to the iconic Torre de Belém, on the banks of the Tejo River. The finish is scheduled for the nearby Oeiras, after an almost flat 12-kilometer individual time trial.
1st Stage 17.08 Lisbon – Oeiras 12km ITT
Both the second stage (Cascais – Ourém) and the third stage (Lousã – Castelo Branco) will also take place on Portuguese soil, adding a special character to the event.
2nd Stage 18.08 Cascais – Ourém 191km
3rd Stage 19.08 Lousã – Castelo Branco 182km
The Vuelta starting outside of Spain is not a common occurrence. In the last 78 editions, the competition began outside the country only four times. Lisbon hosted the start in 1997, followed by Assen (2009), Nîmes (2017), and Utrecht (2022). The second stage on Portuguese soil may pose a challenge for climbers, while sprinters will face difficulties in the third stage.
4th Stage 20.08 Placensia – Pico Villuercas 167km
In the 4th stage, already on Spanish territory, the first demonstration of what is to come. This will be the first major test for riders contending for the General Classification. It’s a very tough mountain stage, featuring a first-category climb, a second-category climb, and a third-category climb along the way, before finishing at Pico Villuercas (14.5 km at 6.2%). The Vuelta visited this climb two years ago, and Roman Bardet was the first to cross the line.