Vuelta a Andalucía 2018 to kick off in Mijas, Costa del Sol

Spain’s love affair with cycling will be clear to see as the 2018 edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía kicks off tomorrow in Mijas, Costa del Sol.

Tomorrow is 14th February and  hearts will be racing, fevers will be running high, palms will be sweaty and the euphoria will be palpable all around the Costa del Sol… but not necessarily for the reasons you might think…

This Wednesday 14th marks the start of the Vuelta a Andalucía, an annual cycling event that, this year, will see 154 athletes from 28 countries go head-to-head in a 708-kilometre dash through Andalucía’s stunning cities, towns and villages, over 5 stages, to the finish line in Barbate, a beautiful coastal town near Tarifa in Cádiz province.

This year, Mijas Costa has been chosen as the starting point for the race, where vast crowds are expected to line the streets at the departure point on Camino de Albero (in the Las Lagunas area of Mijas Costa) at 11:30am to witness the firing of the starting pistol for this prestigious event.

Alejandro Valverde: winner of last year’s Vuelta a Andalucía with Team Movistar.

Cycling has a huge following throughout Spain, with an estimated 10.3% of Spaniards (just under 5 million individuals) participating in the activity on a weekly basis, according to 2015 figures.

In fact, the same study revealed that there is at least one bicycle in over 60% of Spanish households, making bicycles the top-ranked item of sports equipment owned by Spaniards… even ahead of footballs and tennis rackets!

After the success of the Davis Cup – OK, admittedly not for Team GB! – and the 2017 edition of the World Transplant Games, the Costa del Sol is now firmly on the radar for high profile sporting events; a fact that will surely heighten the area’s fabulous reputation and will continue to attract expats to its sunny shores.

…And for those who aren’t so interested in cycling and won’t be lining the streets with flags and cameras in the hope of catching a glimpse of your favourite cyclist, VIVA wishes you a very happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow!