Vuelta a España 2025: International Route Brings Both Excellence and Controversy to Spanish cycling
A Historic Multi-Nation Grand Tour
The 80th edition of the Vuelta a España began on August 23, 2025, in Turin, Italy, and will conclude on September 14 in Madrid. This year’s Spanish Grand Tour makes history by crossing through four different countries – starting in Italy, moving through France and Andorra before reaching Spain. The total race distance spans an impressive 3,151km (1,958 miles) and includes nearly 53,000m of climbing across three weeks.
Current Race Situation
Jonas Vingegaard currently leads the race, holding a 26-second advantage over second-placed Torstein Træen, while João Almeida sits in third place, 38 seconds behind. Tom Pidcock maintains his fourth position, 58 seconds off the lead.
In other classifications, Mads Pedersen holds the green points jersey, Jay Vine wears the polka dot mountain classification jersey, and Giulio Pellizzari leads the young rider classification.
Controversy and Safety Concerns
Recent stages have been marked by controversy, with protest incidents causing significant concern. During one stage, protesters entered the road, resulting in a rider crash, which has sparked outrage within the peloton.
Stage 11 brought particular drama in the Basque Country, featuring a 157.4km loop around Bilbao with seven categorized climbs. Olympic champion Tom Pidcock launched multiple attacks on the Alto de Pike, though Vingegaard maintained his position. However, due to protests in the city centre, organizers were forced to neutralize the race three kilometers from the finish for rider safety, resulting in no stage winner being declared.
Looking Ahead
The race faces crucial upcoming stages, including significant general classification battles in Andorra and the Pyrenees. A highlight will be the legendary Alto de l’Angliru climb, which features on the longest stage of the race at 202km. The route includes medium mountain stages, sprint opportunities, and both individual and team time trials before the traditional conclusion in Madrid.
