La Vuelta a España - or simply La Vuelta - is 1 of 3 major Grand Tour events in professional cycling. Typically held between August and September each year, La Vuelta attracts the world’s cycling elite in a rigorous test of mental and physical endurance.
Just like the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, La Vuelta was first organised by a local newspaper seeking to boost circulation. The race’s inaugural edition was held in 1935. A total of 50 riders entered the race that year and took on the daunting 3,411 km course over 14 stages. During the first 2 decades of its existence, the organisation of La Vuelta was disrupted by the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Since 1955, however, La Vuelta has been held annually.
The tour’s current format consists of 21 day-long stages over a 23 or 24-day period, with 2 or 3 rest days. The rider with the lowest aggregate time across all stages is declared the winner and claims the coveted red jersey.
Free Entry
La Vuelta is free to attend and no advance ticket booking is required.
