La Vuelta 20 was strange in many ways and, fortunately, unique. La Vuelta 21 will also be special and memorable, but for different reasons. This is our hope and the goal that we have been working tirelessly towards over the past few months. With a wider itinerary, geographically-speaking, La Vuelta 21 will - literally - travel all around Spain: Castilla y León, Castilla-la Mancha, the Autonomous Community of Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, Extremadura, Cantabria, the Principality of Asturias and Galicia will play the starring roles. This Vuelta will cover many kilometres in order to pass through as many provinces as possible, though we remain saddened that we cannot pass through all of them.
It is always a pleasure to return to Levante and Andalusia to, once again, showcase their many wonders to the thousands of spectators who, year after year, tune in to watch us from 190 countries worldwide. We are happy to go back to Extremadura, where three stages will be held. We are happy also to be able to pay homage to a small cycling paradise, such as El Barraco (Ávila). And we could not conceive La Vuelta without a new series of unprecedented and explosive finales, all part of the La Vuelta’s soul: Picón Blanco, Balcón de Alicante, Pico Villuercas, Altu d’El Gamoniteiru…, counting, of course, with the permission of the majestic Lagos de Covadonga, who return to dazzle us yet again.
La Vuelta 21 is ambitious and extensive, with a finale that, though different, is well-known: Santiago de Compostela. Obviously, we will miss the usual hospitality of Madrid, but we know we will be in good hands with the people of Galicia, always extraordinary hosts.
The 76th edition of La Vuelta will be different, with a backstory that has helped us shape its itinerary. We have based this year’s edition on Spain’s vast heritage in order to create the Vuelta of the Cathedrals: departing from Burgos, which celebrates its 8th centenary, and ending at Santiago de Compostela, which will be all decked out to celebrate its Jacobean Year. I invite you to read on to discover the rest of the stops along this majestic route. It is full of many new stories and places which we hope to make unforgettable. I sincerely wish that you enjoy this year’s Vuelta.
Javier Guillén, director of La Vuelta
