The final preparations for La Vuelta 25 have been completed as the race kicks off on Saturday, August 23, with a 186.7-km stage from Turin - Reggia di Venaria to Novara. Among the top sprinters lining up in Piedmont for a historic start to the 80th edition of the Spanish Grand Tour, Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen expressed their ambitions to claim the first leader’s jersey, after having done so at the Giro and the Tour respectively. Meanwhile, Monaco is already gearing up to host the start of La Vuelta 26 a year from now.
CALLING ALL SPRINTERS: “THERE ARE STRONG CANDIDATES”
Starting from the spectacular Reggia di Venaria in Turin, the former royal residence of the Savoy family and a World Heritage Site, and finishing in Novara, the birthplace of Giuseppe Saronni, La Vuelta 25 will kick off its Grand Depart in Piedmont with a first stage that favours the fast men. With a route of 186.7 kilometres that will include a categorised climb (La Serra, cat. 3, km 70.5) that will determine the first leader of the KOM standings, the route will reach the shores of Lake Maggiore, before heading towards a finish suited to the sprinters eyeing the first leader's jersey. In this century, where time trials, by team or individual, have been the norm to get the action going, La Vuelta has only had two road first stages: in 2020 (Primoz Roglic won t Arrate) and in 2007 (Daniele Bennati, Vigo).
“Starting with a flat stage is unusual for us, but it's a way of thanking the Piedmont region for its efforts, showing more of the region's territory and landscapes, and in sporting terms it's also a way of broadening the range of riders who can take the leader's jersey”’ explains Kiko García, technical director of La Vuelta. "I think we can expect three different stages in terms of battles and strategies, and also different in terms of winners. The first stage is easy in terms of profile, which I think 99% of fans would say is a stage for a sprint finish, and we've seen that there are strong candidates. The next two are a bit tricky. The route of the stages in Piedmont is beautiful overall and passes through spectacular locations. It is a journey through the history of the region that must be enjoyed from kilometre 0, including the neutralised section through the historic centre of Turin."
PEDERSEN AND PHILIPSEN EYE LA ROJA
Since La Roja was introduced at La Vuelta 15 years ago, Mark Cavendish is the only sprinter to have taken the first leader’s jersey, in 2010… And that came in a team time trial, a discipline often used by the organisers to get the action going. Stage 1 of the 2025 edition offers the fast men a rare chance to shine, and eyes naturally turn to Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), who took the first maglia rosa this year at the Giro d’Italia, and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who took the opening sprint of the Tour de France.
“In the Giro, I wanted to put the pressure on from the start and take as many wins as possible”, Pedersen explains ahead of his second participation in La Vuelta, having won three stages and the points classification in 2022. “Why not come into La Vuelta with the same mentality? We have to set the bar high.” The confidence is high after a dominant display at the PostNord Tour of Denmark although the presence of Philipsen “makes it tougher to win stage 1, but nothing is impossible. I have also beaten him before, and it gives me enough belief that we can start the Vuelta strong.”
Philipsen announced this week his return to La Vuelta four years after his last participation (3 stage wins across 2020 and 2021). “Since I crashed out of the Tour, we set ourselves a new goal. I’m happy to be here, happy that my recovery went well and I’m looking forward to starting the race. For sure, it was a very short preparation, but I tried my best to train hard and get in good shape. I also did some racing, so I expect to be in decent shape and I hope to improve during the race.”
SUSTAINABLE TROPHIES FOR THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF LA VUELTA
Unveiled today, the official trophies for La Vuelta 25 highlight the race's commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. Designed and manufactured in Spain in collaboration with Sustain Awards, they are made from 100% recycled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) sourced from end-of-life bicycle tyres. The manufacturing technique also honours traditional craftsmanship, as the compound is moulded by hand, ensuring durable objects with a unique texture.
The design of the trophy awarded to the winner of La Roja pays tribute to the rich history of the race, featuring the iconic V for Victory from the La Vuelta logo, as well as the names of all the winners of the 79 editions contested since 1935. The trophies for second and third place feature a bold design, whose irregular and oblique geometry reflects the very essence of cycling: a sport of constant movement, pushing oneself to the limit and unexpected twists and turns.
FROM TURIN TO MONACO: “THE FIRST PLACE TO HAVE HOSTED THE GRAND DÉPART OF ALL THREE GRAND TOURS”
As northern Italy buzzes with excitement for the start of La Vuelta 25, Monaco is already preparing to host the event one year from now. The baton was handed over on Friday from representatives of the Piedmont Region to the Monaco Organising Committee, represented by Christian Tornatore, Sir Gary Verity, and Nicolas Roche, in a ceremony also attended by Kiko García, technical director of La Vuelta.
"The next Vuelta will begin in Monaco in exactly 12 months, on August 22, 2026," introduced Sir Gary Verity, member of the La Vuelta Monaco organizing committee. "Monaco will become the first place to have hosted the Grand Départ of all three Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia in 1966, the Tour de France in 2009, and the Vuelta in 2026. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 25, for the press conference that will reveal the full race route in the presence of Prince Albert II."
Monaco will thus become the eighth foreign country visited by La Vuelta and the sixth non-Spanish city to host the race start, following Lisbon (Portugal) in 1997 and 2024, Assen (the Netherlands) in 2009, Nîmes (France) in 2017, Utrecht (the Netherlands) in 2022, and Turin (Italy) in 2025. The race’s opening stage will take place entirely within Monaco’s territory, which will also host the start of La Vuelta 26’s second stage. Monaco is home to Victor Langellotti, participating in his second La Vuelta this year, the first with Ineos Grenadiers.
ALL EYES ON LA VUELTA 25
The global identity of La Vuelta - starting from Italy, crossing four countries and capturing attention worldwide with action brought by riders from all continents - is reflected in its extensive media coverage. For three weeks and a half, fans can get as close as they want to the event, with broadcasts in 190 territories with a combination of generalist free-to-air and sports channels. Nine stages will be fully produce, from the very first pedal stroke: 1, 2 and 3, to catch all the action from the first days in Piedmont, and then 5 (the TTT), 7, 11, 14, 20 and 21, showcasing the toughest mountain courses and culminating in the grand finale in Madrid.
The official website lavuelta.es and the Race Center will provide all the info during and around the race. Additionally, fans can follow the race and enjoy behind-the-scenes content with La Vuelta’s official podcast and social media channels, which offer live coverage, highlights, interviews, and entertaining content on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
“LA VUELTA ES MÁS”: AVIANCA’S ECOCUPS DRIVE SOLIDARITY
The event’s commitment to solidarity and sustainability, embodied by the initiative “La Vuelta es Más” (“La Vuelta is more”), builds an increasingly sustainable organization. Notably, EcoCups have reduced the needs of disposable packaging, avoiding the use of 200.000 plastic glasses since 2021. Guests who consume a drink in designated areas receive a reusable cup, supported by Avianca, for a one-euro deposit. They can recover their deposit by returning the cup - unless they wish to keep it as a souvenir. Unclaimed deposits are donated to charity. 50.000 euros have been raised so far.
