Vuelta a España sweeps across Spain

The 66th edition of la Vuelta a España, Spain’s biggest bike race, began in the coastal resort of Benidorm last Saturday. From this point a field of over 200 of the world’s best professional cyclists from 22 teams will race for three weeks across a gruelling course consisting of 21 stages over an epic 3295 km. The race will end in the spectacular and traditional manner right in the heart of Madrid on September 11th.

La Vuelta a España takes place at the end of every summer and is one of the world’s greatest bike races. It forms one of cycling’s three Grand Tours along with the Tour de France in July, and the Giro d’Italia in May. To win this race is to be immortalized in cycling history and only the strongest and most consistent rider after three weeks of pain and physical suffering ever prevail to wear the much coveted leader’s red jersey. Last years winner, Italian Vincenzo Nibali is defending his title but faces stiff competition from the likes of Catalan climber, Joaquim Rodríguez and the UK’s Bradley Wiggins. The pros cannot afford to have a bad day. Rest and recovery are absolutely essential when not on the bike, as well as eating; in just one day of racing a professional cyclist can burn up to 8000 calories!

The route that the race follows varies each year and this year marks a significant change as la Vuelta will return to the Basque region in northern Spain. The Basque people are among the most passionate cycling fans in the world; however, the race has not visited the region in the past 33 editions following years of political unrest.

Cycling in Spain is massively popular and the country boasts some of the sport’s biggest names like Alberto Contador. For those who aren’t quite up to the speeds or distances of the pros however, there are a number of popular long distance rides in Spain that follow historical trading and pilgrimage routes; such as la Ruta de la Plata between Seville and Astorga, el Camino de Santiago along the northern coast, and el Camino del Cid between Alicante and Burgos.

Towns and cities across Spain compete to host stage starts and finishes in order to benefit from the publicity and the economic boost as fans, teams and media from across the cycling world descend upon them. This particular cycling fan will be out on the streets of Salamanca on August 29th to cheer Bradley Wiggins when the city hosts Stage 10, which will provide one of this year’s most beautiful finishes in the magnificent Plaza Mayor.