Looking back at La Vuelta 2024
The Vuelta a España 2024 came to an end with an exciting final time trial in Madrid, which was won by Stefan Küng of Groupama - FDJ. The Swiss rider completed the 24.6-kilometre course in 26:28 minutes, beating Primož Roglič (RedBull-Bora-hansgrohe) by 30 seconds. This was Küng's first stage win in a Grand Tour and a glittering finish to the 79th Tour of Spain.
With his strong second place, Roglič was even able to extend his lead in the overall standings on the final day, securing his fourth overall victory at the Vuelta. The Slovenian rider had previously reclaimed the lead with an impressive solo attack on stage 19, leaving the competition behind him. Roglič's victory was particularly remarkable as he had previously had to abandon the Tour de France prematurely due to a crash. With his triumph, he also equalled Roberto Heras' record for the most Vuelta victories.
The other podium places went to Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), almost two and a half minutes behind Roglič in second place, and Enric Mas (Movistar), who completed the podium in third.
In the special classifications, Jay Vine (UAE) came out on top in the mountains classification, while Kaden Groves (Alepcin-Deceuninck) won the points classification. The award for the best young rider went to Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), who impressively demonstrated his talent.
The Vuelta 2024 offered exciting races and dramatic developments that made the tour an unforgettable event. As Roglič further cemented his place in history, numerous talents and strong performances emerged to make the race one of the most spectacular in recent years.
This was our preview: La Vuelta 2024 - Climbs galore
The Vuelta a España 2024 starts with fresh flair in Portugal, where the first stages in Lisbon, Oeiras, and Cascais begin with a flat individual time trial. The first few days are characterized by fast, hilly sections before the tour moves to Spain on the fourth day, where the first tough mountain stage on Pico Villuercas awaits – a brutal climb with over 15% gradient.
The first week culminates in a challenging mountain stage in the Sierra Nevada around Granada, with three climbs of the 1st category. The second week raises the bar even higher: with the tough finale on Cuitu Negru – one of the hardest climbs of the tour – and other peaks like Puerto de Ancares, the race week will be a real endurance test for the classification riders.
The third week begins legendary with the mountain finish at Lagos de Covadonga and continues with a demanding penultimate stage that includes the steep Picón Blanco. The grand finale takes place in Madrid – an individual time trial covering the last 22 kilometers of the Vuelta that will crown the overall winner.
Overall, the riders face 21 stages with 3261 km, including nine summit finishes and a challenging time trial to conclude. Fans can look forward to a spectacular race where the mountains will play the leading role.
Stage 1 (August 17): Lisbon – Oeiras
Length: 12 km (Individual Time Trial) | The 2024 Vuelta a España starts with an individual time trial in Portugal. From the capital Lisbon, a 12-kilometer flat course leads to Oeiras.
Stage 2 (August 18): Cascais – Ourém
Length: 191 km | The second longest stage of the Vuelta covers 191 kilometers and could be a sprinter’s affair in Ourém. The only difficulty is a fourth-category climb just 20 kilometers before the finish.
Stage 3 (August 19): Lousã – Castello Branco
Length: 191 km | The last of three stages in Portugal covers 191 kilometers from Lousã to Castello Branco. The stage is hilly and mountainous, but the last 40 kilometers are mostly flat.
Stage 4 (August 20): Plasencia – Pico Villuercas
Length: 167 km (Summit Finish) | The first mountain stage of the Vuelta a España ends at 1,549 meters in the mountains of Extremadura, on Pico de Villuercas. The last three kilometers are on concrete ramps with gradients between 15 and 16 percent.
Stage 5 (August 21): Fuente del Maestre – Sevilla
Length: 170 km | Officially, no climbs are recorded, but more than two-thirds run over an undulating course, offering good opportunities for breakaways.
Stage 6 (August 22): Jerez de la Frontera – Yunquera
Length: 181 km (Summit Finish) | On the second mountain stage, riders must climb a total of four category-three ascents to the finish, with the summit in Yunquera as the endpoint.
Stage 7 (August 23): Archidona – Córdoba
Length: 179 km | The stage leads through the province of Córdoba and includes a loop around the provincial capital with a second-category climb, the "Alto del 14%."
Stage 8 (August 24): Úbeda – Cazorla
Length: 159 km (Summit Finish) | This stage will likely end in an uphill sprint in Cazorla, with the climb to the summit finish having no significant impact on the overall standings.
Stage 9 (August 25): Motril – Granada
Length: 178 km | A tough mountain stage through the Sierra Nevada, ending with a long descent to Granada after several hard climbs.
Rest Day (August 26)
Stage 10 (August 27): Ponteareas – Baiona
Length: 160 km | After the rest day, the stage runs through the mountains of Galicia, with a final mountainous trio likely to initiate a knockout race.
Stage 11 (August 28): Cortizo Padrón – Cortizo Padrón
Length: 164 km | Circuit around Padrón with three second-category climbs and one third-category pass. Ideal for breakaways or tactical moves.
Stage 12 (August 29): Ourense – Estación de Manzaneda
Length: 137 km (Summit Finish) | The shortest stage of the Vuelta with a tough summit finish at Estación de Montaña de Manzaneda at 1,492 m. Key finale for the overall standings.
Stage 13 (August 30): Lugo – Puerto de Ancares
Length: 171 km (Summit Finish) | Hilly stage with a demanding final ramp at Puerto de Ancares. Last 5 km with up to 12% gradient.
Stage 14 (August 31): Villafranca del Bierzo – Villablino
Length: 199 kilometers | Longest stage of the Vuelta with a decisive climb to Puerto de Leitariegos. Possible breakaway until the final climb.
Stage 15 (September 1): Infiesto – Cuitu Negru
Length: 142 kilometers (Summit Finish) | Summit finish at Cuitu Negru with extremely steep ramps up to 23%. Second encounter with the “Asturian Colossus” since 2012.
Stage 16 (September 3): Luanco – Lagos de Covadonga
Length: 181 kilometers (Summit Finish) | Epic stage to the Lagos de Covadonga. Two first-category climbs before the legendary final climb to the lakes.
Stage 17 (September 4): Monumento Juan de Castillo Arnuero – Santander
Length: 143 kilometers | Flat section after two second-category climbs. Chance for sprinters if they can catch the breakaways.
Stage 18 (September 5): Vitoria-Gasteiz – Maeztu
Length: 175 kilometers | Mid-mountain stage through the Basque Country. A first-category climb and another second-category climb make the field difficult to control.
Stage 19 (September 6): Logroño – Alto de Moncalvillo
Length: 168 kilometers (Summit Finish) | Penultimate summit finish with a demanding final ramp at Alto de Moncalvillo. The last kilometers are particularly steep.
Stage 20 (September 7): Villarcayo – Picón Blanco
Length: 171 kilometers (Summit Finish) | Mountain stage with seven passes and a demanding final ramp to Picón Blanco at 1,518 m. Decisive for the overall classification.
Stage 21 (September 8): Madrid – Madrid
Length: 22 kilometers (Individual Time Trial) | Conclusion of the Vuelta with an individual time trial in Madrid. Short stage without major difficulties, ideal for time trial specialists.
The list of participating riders is as heavy with favorites as rarely before! With the exception of Pogacar, almost all the big names in cycling in 2023 are participating. It is clear that the upcoming winner will have to fight hard for the Maillot Rojo.
Auf diese Teams und Fahrer lohnt es sich dabei, besonders zu achten:
Visma | Lease a bike
Sepp Kuss, the defending champion of the Vuelta a España, is ready to repeat his success from last year. After the “Eagle of Durango” had to skip the 2024 Tour de France due to a COVID-19 infection, he has fully recovered and is back in top form. Despite his absence from the Tour, Kuss has been specifically prepared by his team Visma-Lease a Bike for the Vuelta and is determined to defend his title.
The Vuelta 2024 will particularly highlight Kuss’s strengths in the demanding mountain stages. With only one flat stage in an otherwise mountainous course, the race offers plenty of opportunities for the “Durango Kid” to showcase his climbing talent. The challenging climbs and varied terrain perfectly suit his riding style, and fans can look forward to an exciting competition with the American, who once again enters the race as a favorite.
Soudal Quick-Step
The Soudal-Quick-Step team enters the Vuelta a España 2024 with a strong squad. Mikel Landa is already confirmed for the race and will be the main rider targeting the overall classification. His experience and climbing skills make him a serious contender for the top positions. However, the team could be further strengthened by another major talent: Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian rider, who finished third in the 2024 Tour de France and has already won the Vuelta, would be a crucial advantage for the team.
However, Evenepoel’s participation in the Vuelta is not yet certain. He will still compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris before the Vuelta, which could affect his availability for the Spanish tour. If he does decide to join, his addition could give the Soudal-Quick-Step team a significant boost and make them favorites for the overall victory.
Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe
At the Vuelta a España 2024, the team Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe faces a tough challenge. After the disappointing Tour de France, where Primož Roglič had to withdraw due to two crashes and a vertebral fracture, the team needs to regroup. The uncertainty surrounding Roglič's participation in the Vuelta is weighing on the team, as the captain of their Tour dreams cannot compete at full strength. Additionally, Aleksandr Vlasov, another key member, is injured and will definitely miss the Vuelta.
In this difficult situation, Jay Hindley steps into the spotlight as the team's main hope. The 2023 Giro d'Italia winner has clear ambitions for major tour successes and could fill the gap left by the injured riders. With Hindley leading, the team Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe will do everything possible to make the Vuelta 2024 a success and tackle the challenge with a fighting spirit.
Team UAE
After Tadej Pogačar already won the double of Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 2024, he will not participate in the Vuelta a España 2024. This decision, however, opens new opportunities for Team UAE Emirates. Without Pogačar on the list, the team relies on its strong riders Joao Almeida and Adam Yates, both of whom have the potential to play a major role in the overall standings.
With a consistently strong squad and two outstanding options for overall victory, UAE Emirates is determined to repeat the success of Team Jumbo-Visma in 2023, which won all three Grand Tours. The Vuelta 2024 will be a crucial test for UAE to demonstrate their ambitions and the strength of their riders, aiming to achieve the impressive triple.
Lidl-Trek
Team Lidl-Trek enters the Vuelta a España 2024 with great ambitions. Special attention is given to the Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose, whose participation in the race is already confirmed. Skjelmose, who has established himself as a promising talent in recent years, views the Vuelta 2024 as a pivotal step in his career. He plans to use a strong performance at the Spanish tour to position himself for future successes in the Tour de France.
For Skjelmose, the Vuelta is not just a test but a strategic move towards the ultimate goal: winning the Tour de France in 2025. With a focused approach and the aim of delivering an outstanding performance at the Vuelta, the Danish rider hopes to gain the necessary form and experience to compete at the forefront in next year's biggest race in cycling. Team Lidl-Trek will provide him with all the support needed to turn this ambitious plan into reality.
This year's tour features the following (automatically qualified) UCI WorldTeams:
- Alpecin–Deceuninck, Belgium
- Arkéa-B&B Hotels, France
- Astana Qazaqstan Team, Kazakhstan
- Bahrain Victorious, Bahrain
- Cofidis, France
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team, France
- EF Education-EasyPost, USA
- Groupama-FDJ, France
- Ineos Grenadiers, United Kingdom
- Intermarché-Wanty, Belgium
- Jayco–Alula, Australia
- Lidl-Trek, USA
- Movistar Team, Spain
- Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Germany
- Soudal-QuickStep, Belgium
- Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, Netherlands
- Visma-Lease a Bike, Netherlands
- UAE Team Emirates, UAE
The top two UCI ProTeams in the UCI rankings for 2023 will also participate in the Vuelta 24:
- Lotto DSTNY, Belgium
- Israel-Premier Tech, Israel
Sowie diese nicht automatisch qualifizierten Teams ("Wildcards"):
- Team Kern Pharma, Spain
- Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain
Classification Jerseys and Themed Jerseys
The best rider in the overall classification receives the Maillot Rojo – the red jersey, sometimes also called ‘el Rojo’. It is one of the most prestigious classification jerseys in cycling worldwide.
The relatively new Young Rider classification is evaluated in the same way as the overall classification, but only riders under 25 years old are considered.
The Maillot verde, the green jersey of La Vuelta, rewards stage winners and sprinters: Placements in each stage as well as intermediate sprints award points – and the rider with the most points earns the classification jersey. The Maillot Lunares, the white jersey with blue polka dots, is for the best climber. And it has to be earned: The more difficult and longer the climb, the more points are awarded.
In addition to the official classification jerseys, the official sponsor Santini has designed themed jerseys that not only offer professional performance in cycling but also reflect and incorporate the emotions of the Spanish tour. All classification and special jerseys of La Vuelta 24.
La Vuelta Femenina 2024: An Impressive Finale
The Vuelta Femenina 2024 concluded with a spectacular finale and another dominant performance by Demi Vollering (SD Worx). The Dutch rider not only secured the stage win but also the overall victory, solidifying her status as one of the best female climbers in cycling.
The hardest mountain stage of the season: The eighth stage, considered the toughest mountain stage of the WorldTour season, took the riders over two long climbs: the Puerto de la Morcuera (9.10 km, 6.95%) and the Puerto de Cotos (9.20 km, 5.83%). Already on the first climb, Vollering’s strength was evident as she took the lead and left the competition behind. Although Pauliena Rooijakkers launched an attack, she was quickly caught. Vollering conquered both climbs with impressive performances, notably pulling away decisively on the Puerto de Cotos.
The decisive moment: With 6.5 km to go to the finish at the Valdesquí Resort, Vollering attacked in a short section with a tailwind and left her competitors behind for good. She finished the stage 29 seconds ahead of Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) and 33 seconds ahead of Riejanne Markus (Visma-Lease a Bike). This impressive performance secured her not only the stage win but also the overall victory in the Vuelta Femenina 2024.
