Vuelta a Espana 2015 recap: Fabio Aru seals overall victory

The 2015 Vuelta a Espana follows a mountainous route

The 2015 Vuelta a Espana was one of the most entertaining races of the year.

Fabio Aru claimed overall victory, beating Joaquim Rodriguez by 57 seconds.

Look back on the race here

THE STAGES

Stage 1: Saturday, August 22 – Puerto Banus to Marbella – 7.4km team time trial

Stage winner: BMC Racing. Race leader: Peter Velits (BMC Racing).

Report

BMC Racing won the team time trial on stage one

Stage 2: Sunday, August 23 – Alhaurin de la Torre to Caminito del Rey – 158.7km 

Stage winner: Johan Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Johan Esteban Chaves took the race lead by winning stage two

Stage 3: Monday, August 24 – Mijas to Malaga – 158.4km 

Stage winner: Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Peter Sagan sprinted to victory on stage three

Stage 4: Tuesday, August 25 – Estepona to Vejer de la Frontera – 209.6km 

Stage winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Alejandro Valverde pipped Sagan to victory on stage four

Stage 5: Wednesday, August 26 – Rota to Alcala de Guadaira – 167.3km 

Stage winner: Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Caleb Ewan sprinted to an impressive win on stage five

Stage 6: Thursday, August 27 – Cordoba to Sierra de Cazorla – 200.3km 

Stage winner: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Chaves won stage six to regain the overall lead

Stage 7: Friday, August 28 – Jodar to La Alpujarra – 191.1km 

Stage winner: Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Breakaway rider Bert-Jan Lindeman won stage seven

Stage 8: Saturday, August 29 – Puebla de Don Fadrique to Murcia – 182.5km 

Stage winner: Jasper Stuyven (Trek Factory Racing). Race leader: Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge).

Report

Jasper Stuyven sprinted to victory on stage eight

Stage 9: Sunday, August 30 – Torrevieja to Cumbre del Sol Benitachell – 168.3km

Stage winner: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Tom Dumoulin won stage nine to take the overall lead

Stage 10: Monday, August 31 – Valencia to Castellon – 146.6km 

Stage winner: Kristian Sbaragli (MTN-Qhubeka). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Kristian Sbaragli sprinted to victory on stage 10

Stage 11: Wednesday, September 2 – Andorra la Vella to Cortals d’Encamp – 138km 

Stage winner: Mikel Landa (Astana). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Mikel Landa won stage 11 out of the breakaway

Stage 12: Thursday, September 3 – Escaldes to Lleida – 173km 

Stage winner: Danny van Poppel (Trek Factory Racing). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Danny van Poppel sprinted to victory on stage 12

Stage 13: Friday, September 4 – Calatayud to Tarazona – 178km 

Stage winner: Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Nelson Oliveira claimed a solo victory on stage 13

Stage 14: Saturday, September 5 – Vitoria to Alto Campoo Funete del Chivo – 215km 

Stage winner: Alessandro De Marchi (BMC Racing). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Breakaway rider Alessandro De Marchi won stage 14

Stage 15: Sunday, September 6 – Comillas to Sotres Cabrales – 175.8km 

Stage winner: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Joaquim Rodriguez climbed to victory on stage 15

Stage 16: Monday, July 20 – Luarca to Ermita de Alba Quiros – 185km 

Stage winner: Frank Schleck (Trek Factory Racing). Race leader: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

Report

Frank Schleck won stage 16 out of the breakaway

Stage 17: Wednesday, September 9 – Burgos to Burgos – 38.7km individual time trial 

Stage winner: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Tom Dumoulin won stage 17's individual time trial

Stage 18: Thursday, September 10 – Roa to Riaza – 204km 

Stage winner: Nicolas Roche (Team Sky). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Breakaway rider Nicolas Roche won stage 18

Stage 19: Friday, September 11 – Medina del Campo to Avila – 185.8km 

Stage winner: Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale). Race leader: Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).

Report

Alexis Gougeard won stage 19 out of the breakaway

Stage 20: Saturday, September 12 – San Lorenzo de El Escorial to Cercedilla – 175.8km 

Stage winner: Ruban Plaza (Lampre-Merida). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

Ruben Plaza won stage 20 after a 117km solo attack

Stage 21: Sunday, September 13 – Alcala de Henares to Madrid – 98.8km 

Stage winner: John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin). Race leader: Fabio Aru (Astana).

Report

John Degenkolb sprinted to victory in Madrid on stage 21

THREE KEY STAGES

- Stage 11: One of the most menacing-looking profiles in recent memory, this beast of a stage could well put whoever is strongest on the day into a commanding race lead. Its challenge is exacerbated by the fact that it comes straight after the first rest day.

- Stage 16: Seven climbs, including one to the summit finish that exceeds 20 per cent in gradient, make this a potentially pivotal day in the mountains.

- Stage 17: The Vuelta is a predominantly a climbers' race but the 39km individual time trial could have a significant say on the overall outcome of the race.

THE JERSEYS

- Red: General classification.

- Green: Points classification.

- Blue and white polka dots: King of the mountains.

- White: Combined classification.

TIME BONUSES

- 10, six and four bonus seconds will be awarded to the first three riders over the finish line.

- Three, two and one bonus second will be awarded to the first three riders over the line at intermediate sprints.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

- 2014: Alberto Contador (Esp).

- 2013: Chris Horner (USA).

- 2012: Alberto Contador (Esp).

- 2011: Juan Jose Cobo (Esp).

- 2010: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita).

- 2009: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).

- 2008: Alberto Contador (Esp).

- 2007: Denis Menchov (Rus).

- 2006: Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz).