The cycling world is saying goodbye to one of its most iconic stage races. With the traditional Vuelta al Táchira disappearing from the calendar, we felt its roads deserved one final celebration. That is why the inaugural Tour of the Continents begins in Venezuela.
The concept is simple: every year the race will move to a different continent, showcasing cycling's diversity across the globe while preserving routes and traditions that might otherwise disappear. For the first edition, the Americas were the natural starting point, and few races have a richer history than Táchira.
Looking ahead, the plan is for the race to continue its journey around the world. Australia is currently the most likely destination for next year, followed by a potential Japanese edition as the historic Tour of Japan also faces removal from the calendar. Africa and Europe are expected to follow in subsequent years, creating a truly global event built around cycling heritage.
For this first edition, riders will tackle a route inspired by the classic Vuelta al Táchira formula, combining long valley stages, selective mountain finishes, and—restored after previous route experiments—a decisive individual time trial.
Route Overview
The race opens with four opportunities for the sprinters, although the rolling terrain of Táchira means nothing is ever completely straightforward.
Stage 1 – Umuquena → Umuquena (124.8 km)
A gentle opening day featuring only minor rises. The peloton should remain largely intact and the inaugural leader's jersey is expected to go to one of the fast men.
Stage 2 – Abejales Circuit (116.8 km)
Even flatter than the opener. Breakaway specialists may try their luck, but the sprinters' teams will see this as one of their best chances of the week.
Stage 3 – El VigÃa → La Uraca (124.6 km)
A succession of small climbs begins to wear down the field, but the pure sprinters should survive this easily.
Stage 4 – La FrÃa → El VigÃa (173.2 km)
This was stage 5 in last year's edition. Two substantial climbs dominate the profile in the first half of the stage. The sprinters teams should have time enough to organize the chase for another bunch sprint.
Stage 5 – Michelena → Iglesia de Boca de Monte (23.2 km ITT)
A mountain time trial to Iglesia De Boca de Monte. This will shake up GC for the first time. Kone-Nordea got a 1-2 here last year with Sasu Helme and Sakari Lehtinen.
Stage 6 – Santa Cruz de Mora → La Grita (165.6 km)
The profile hides its difficulty for much of the day before exploding in the finale. After a relatively calm opening, the road rises sharply towards La Grita. Expect attacks from riders who lost time in the time trial and need to regain ground before the queen stage.
Stage 7 – El Piñal → Peribeca (161.5 km)
The queen stage of the race. Continuous climbing dominates the second half, with multiple ascents gradually softening the field before the final uphill battle.
This is the day where the strongest climber can truly seize control of the race. Teams with multiple GC options may use the relentless terrain to launch attacks from distance.
Stage 8 – Ureña → Cerro El Cristo (127.0 km)
A fitting finale. The route builds steadily before culminating in a major summit finish at Cerro El Cristo. Any remaining doubts in the general classification will be settled here.
The climb is long enough for significant gaps, making this a genuine last chance for the contenders. If the race remains close after Stage 7, this could produce a dramatic conclusion.
Stage 9 – Ureña → San Antonio del Táchira ITT (16.5 km)
The race concludes with a (restored short individual time trial. While largely flat, it ensures that the overall winner must remain focused until the very last kilometre. Riders separated by only seconds in the mountains could still see their positions reshuffled on the final day.
Race Outlook
This first Tour of the Continents stays true to the spirit of the Vuelta al Táchira. The route offers opportunities for sprinters, enough medium-mountain terrain to encourage aggressive racing, two demanding summit finishes, and a pair of time trials that reward complete riders.
