Vuelta a Espana 2024: Route revealed for iconic race which includes start in Portugal and concluding time trial

The route for the 2024 Vuelta a Espana has been revealed.

It will begin in Lisbon, just the fifth time the race has commenced on foreign soil, and feature nine summit finishes, as well as a concluding individual time trial in Madrid for the first time since 2002.

In total, riders will compete over eight mountain stages, five mid-mountain stages, six on the flat, and two individual time trials for the red jersey.

The 79th edition of the iconic race gets underway in Lisbon, Portugal, with a short individual time trial that ends in Oeiras before competitors navigate two hilly stages that will take them through Cascais, Ourem, Lousa and Castello Branco.

Stage 4 will bring the race into Spain and feature a first summit finish on the Pico de Villuercas ascent, last included in the route in 2021.

Riders will then head south towards Seville before the first week concludes with a mountain stage between Motril and Granada where the Vuelta will take on two category one climbs.

Stage 10 is another in the mountains that kicks off in Ponteaereas and finishes 160km later in Baiona, while the next two stages will offer some respite before another category one climb for stage 13.

Stage 14 will be familiar to avid cycling fans. The final climb of Ancares is where Chris Froome and Alberto Contador battled it out in 2014 and where Purito Rodriguez prevailed in 2012.

The slopes of Cuitu Negru will be the conclusion for stage 15 and the second week in the mountains before the well-known ascent up Lagos de Covadonga will test riders to the limit at the end of the 181km of stage 16.

The mid-mountain stages 17 and 18 follow, while Alto de Moncalvillo returns to the route for stage 19.

Stage 20 is the final mountain stage and will take place over 188km before finishing on the Picon Blanco slopes. It could also be the last big chance for riders to make their mark on the race before the transfer to the Spanish capital for the grand finale.

For one rider, the 22km dash through the streets of Madrid will act as a victory lap but it could also be the scene for a highly dramatic finish that will be a break from the traditional procession to the line.