2012 Vuelta route announced
The route for the 2012 Vuelta a Espana has been revealed as one likely to suit the climbers come August.
Last Updated: 11/01/12 1:03pm
The route for the 2012 Vuelta a Espana has been revealed as one likely to suit the climbers come August.
Wednesday saw the official announcement of the route by the race organisers and the first chance for the world’s leading teams and riders to see what’s in store when proceedings kick off on August 18.
The Grand Tour proved to be a landmark one for British cycling in 2011 with Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins both finishing on the final podium in Madrid, second and third respectively for Team Sky.
Beginning in Pamplona with a 16.2km team time trial, the route hugs the north of the country in what looks set to be a race decided by the climbers.
In a race that never travels south of Madrid, no less than 10 mountaintop finishes should ensure a number of thrilling climaxes, with the first arriving as early as stage three in Arrate.
That stage sees the event return to the Basque Country for the second successive year after the region was reintroduced to the route to good effect last season.
Climbing legs
13 stages featuring high mountains should give ample opportunity for the climbers, yet any mountain goat will have to be wary of a 40km individual time trial on stage 11 from Cambados to Pontevedra.
A trilogy of high mountain finishes in the Asturias ahead of the final rest day could prove pivotal, with only one real chance to gain time remaining in the final week.
The final climax could play out on the 20th and penultimate stage and a mountaintop finish on the epic Bola del Mundo climb which decided the race in 2010.
The full route of the 2012 Vuelta a Espana is as follows:
Stage 1 - August 18: Pamplona team time trial, 16.2km
Stage 2 - August 19: Pamplona-Viana, 180km
Stage 3 - August 20: Oion-Arrate (Eibar), 153km
Stage 4 - August 21: Barakaldo-Valdezcaray, 155km
Stage 5 - August 22: Logroño-Logroño, 172km
Stage 6 - August 23: Tarazona-El Fuerte del Rapitán (Jaca), 174km
Stage 7 - August 24: Jaca-Motorland (Alcañiz), 160km
Stage 8 - August 25: Lleida- Coll de la Gallina (Andorra), 175km
Stage 9 - August 26. Andorra-Barcelona, 194km
August 27: Rest day
Stage 10 - August 28: Ponteareas-Sanxenxo, 166km
Stage 11 - August 29: Cambados-Pontevedra time trial, 40km
Stage 12 - August 30: Vilagarcía-Mirador de Ezaro (La Coruña), 184.6km
Stage 13 - August 31: Santiago de Compostela-Ferrol, 172.7km
Stage 14 - September 1: Palas do Rei-Los Ancares, 152km
Stage 15 - September 2: La Robla-Lagos de Covadonga, 186.7km
Stage 16 - September 3: Gijón (Villa de Jovellanos)-Cuitu Negro, 185km
September 4: Rest day
Stage 17 - September 5: Santander-Fuente Dé, 177km
Stage 18 - September 6: Aguilar de Campoo-Valladolid, 186.4km
Stage 19 - September 7: Peñafiel-La Lastrilla, 169km
Stage 20 - September 8: Palazuelo del Eresma-Bola del Mundo, 169.5km
Stage 21 - September 9: Cercedilla-Madrid, 111.9km
