Vuelta a España clicks into gear in Puerto Banús

The 70th edition of the Vuelta a España cycle race gets underway in Puerto Banús tomorrow, 22 August, at 6.40pm, with no fewer than four of the Tour’s 21 different stages taking place right here on the Costa del Sol… before crossing the finishing line in Madrid three weeks – and 3,357.1km – later, on 13 September…

It’s the sixth time in its 80-year history that the event has kicked off in the province of Málaga, and it promises to be the best yet, with red jersey top favourites including Tour of France stars Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali, although sadly Spain’s 2014 Vuelta winner Alberto Contador will not be defending his title.

The race organisers have surpassed themselves, too, with this year’s route featuring plenty of surprises and innovations. First up, members of the 22 teams competing in the Grand Tour – the last of the year – will sail into Puerto Banús on a motor yacht ahead of the 7.4km team time trial which, somewhat controversially, will see them pedalling hell for leather along Marbella’s picturesque seafront promenade, and a brand new boardwalk section built specifically for the event, before finishing on the sands of the resort’s La Venus beach.

On Day 2, the athletes will be setting off from Alhaurín de la Torre on a 158.7km route finishing at the world-famous and recently reopened Caminito del Rey – though not actually cycling along it of course! Monday’s 158.4km Stage 3 starts in Mijas and ends in Málaga city, while on Tuesday the Vuelta begins in Estepona before exiting the Costa del Sol to arrive in Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz) 209.6km later.

During the first two weeks, this year’s Tour will also feature nine summit finishes, none of which has ever before appeared on the race itinerary.

Televisión Española will be televising tonight’s Vuelta a España Gala taking place in Benahavís, and will also be broadcasting a 2-hour daily live TV feed to some 190 countries around the world throughout the 3-week event. It’s estimated that the Tour will be watched by 330 million viewers around the globe with an audience of 31 million in Spain alone.