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2017 Vuelta a Espana Route Revealed
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| jph27 |
Posted on 24-08-2017 23:56
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After the Giro route was revealed earlier today, it's now time for the Vuelta to join the fun and release the 2017 route. Once again it's a shorter presentation than usual, but that doesn't mean it's any less of a challenge for the riders.
Past winners Francisco Mancebo (2007, 2009) and Alexandre Vinokourov (2008) won't be racing this season, having long retired. But with the promotion of Hugo Boss to the PT, 2011 winner Alejandro Valverde may get a chance for an emotional send-off on home soil.
However, there are still 6 former winners of the Vuelta who could contest it this year. 2010 winner Andy Schleck will be delighted with this route seeing the short amount of TT kilometres, as will 2014 winner Jose Alarcon - if he signs for a PT team for the upcoming season, he'll be one to watch.
Aleksandr Pluchkin (2015) is another rider currently without a team who may be tempted to come here and add to his impressive palmares, while Angel Madrazo (2012) and Justo Tenorio (2013) will take Spanish hopes on their shoulders. And who can forget last season's winner Robert Gesink as a contender?
Week 1: A challenging start
We start with a 12km TTT, followed by a flat rated stage that contains a tricky climb - one for the punchy sprinters, or for the break perhaps.
Stage 3 sees a hilly stage that will test the attention of the GC contenders, as well as starting a run of 3 summit finishes - Stages 4 and 5 being tricky mountain stages. Then there's one for the pure sprinters, and another lumpy looking flat stage to conclude week 1. The Vuelta may be won or lost here.
Week 2: Still an uphill battle
Stage 8 should be pretty calm, albeit still quite lumpy, before another two summit finishes - one mountainous, one hilly. Then a long flat stage gives the GC contenders a day's respite, before the climbing starts again.
The finish of Stage 12 is different to the mountain stages preceding it, with a relatively flat finish - a chance for an attack on the final descent perhaps. It is followed by another lumpy stage, showing that the sprinters will need to work hard here. And then Stage 14 is a traditional Vuelta Mountain Top Finish, needing no further introduction.
Week 3: Hell is a place in Spain
The final week starts with a hilly day featuring little in the way of flat road, before another lumpy looking flat stage. Then comes the 39km TT on Stage 17, which should throw the GC wide open once again.
But the pure climbers will have their revenge. First the 230km Queen Stage with 4 Category 1 climbs and a summit finish, followed by a 158km stage the next day - with 4 Cat 1s and a summit finish once again. Stage 20 is a little easier and finishes after a descent, but it'll be hellish at the end of 3 tough weeks in the Spanish sun.
The final stage will offer some respite at least, being flat and relatively ceremonial. But after the preceding days, will the sprinters still be in the race to contest it?
8 Flat
3 Hill
8 Mountain (6 MTF)
2 Time Trial (TTT, ITT) |
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 25-08-2017 00:09
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Looks very weird since stages 12 and 18 are very similar 
Stage 12 is probably Canto-Bonaigua-Portillon-Peyresourde while 18 is Canto-Bonaigua-Bales-Peyresourde-Peyagudes.
And stage 20 has Canto as well.
The finish in stage 4 looks like Penas Blancas and the finish in stage 14 looks like Mont Caro.
Also, is the finishing climb on stage 20 Sahun? 
If so, then it can be a great stage, with some parts of both ascent and descent being on gravel.
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan'
Gracias Alberto.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 25-08-2017 00:15
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Stage 12 is probably Canto-Bonaigua-Portillon-Peyresourde
Correct.
while 18 is Canto-Bonaigua-Bales-Peyresourde-Peyagudes.
Also right.
And stage 20 has Canto as well.
True.
The finish in stage 4 looks like Penas Blancas
Aye.
the finish in stage 14 looks like Mont Caro.
That's where you're wrong kiddo, it's Covadongas!
Also, is the finishing climb on stage 20 Sahun?
Spotttt onnnn.
That's actually really impressive Do the same for the Giro route let's see how good you are
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 13:39
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 25-08-2017 00:26
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matt17br wrote:
Stage 12 is probably Canto-Bonaigua-Portillon-Peyresourde
Correct.
while 18 is Canto-Bonaigua-Bales-Peyresourde-Peyagudes.
Also right.
And stage 20 has Canto as well.
True.
The finish in stage 4 looks like Penas Blancas
Aye.
the finish in stage 14 looks like Mont Caro.
That's where you're wrong kiddo, it's Covadongas!
Also, is the finishing climb on stage 20 Sahun?
Spotttt onnnn.
That's actually really impressive Do the same for the Giro route let's see how good you are
Also stage 9 looks like Ermita de Alba and stage 19 looks like La Farrapona. Couldn't find a possible climb about stage 5 though.
Are you sure 14 is Covadonga though? (Because the 2nd half of Covadonga is very irregular, with a couple of descent parts, which there are none on the climb)
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan'
Gracias Alberto.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 25-08-2017 00:30
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Also stage 9 looks like Ermita de Alba and stage 19 looks like La Farrapona. Couldn't find a possible climb about stage 5 though.
Correct and correct, stage 5 is an Andorra stage culminating up Collada de la Gallina.
Are you sure 14 is Covadonga though? (Because the 2nd half of Covadonga is very irregular, with a couple of descent parts, which there are none on the climb)
This is the stage map in PCM for what it's worth
I'm not a stage expert by any means so this could of course be wrong for some reason.
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 25-08-2017 00:33
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Oh, looking at the map it is clearly Covadonga. They probably finish before the irregular part.
Also what I thought about stage 5 was that the finishing climb isn't that hard because it looked much smaller than the others. Now I realize that Envalira makes them simply look small. Also I think the stage finish is not at the very top of Gallina, but at Santuari de Canolich at 2/3 of Gallina or so, since it looks very similar to the Andorra stage of '13 Vuelta which finished in Canolich. (Climbs are probably Envalira-Ordino-Comella-Canolich)
Edited by Forever the Best on 25-08-2017 00:38
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan'
Gracias Alberto.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 25-08-2017 04:27
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That is one Mountainous race! Might have to try go for a GT this season after not applying for one last season.
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 25-08-2017 06:37
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That's a cracking route, nice work!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| ember |
Posted on 25-08-2017 07:05
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Olala, very, very mountainous indeed! Should be great fun to watch the greatest climbers have a go at it, assuming they'll line up.
Also interesting route considering the Giro, feels like the Tour might be time trial heavy, or at least include more ITT-kilometers than both the Vuelta and the Giro |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 25-08-2017 08:45
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Wow that is a fantastic route! Includes all of the mountains 
Unsure at the moment which is better... the Giro or the Vuelta. Lots of hype for the Tour now
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 25-08-2017 09:57
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I like the amount of climbing!
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 25-08-2017 09:57
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Another uphill brutality, where are the the GTs for Pluchkin and Gesink?
I guess that Le Tour will be their playground, but Alex and his "MG child" likes Vuelta,we know that. 
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| SotD |
Posted on 25-08-2017 10:52
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Another uphill brutality, where are the the GTs for Pluchkin and Gesink?
I guess that Le Tour will be their playground, but Alex and his "MG child" likes Vuelta,we know that.
Where's the Spilak one?
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 25-08-2017 11:32
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Spilak does not need a specific route to either shine or bust.
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| SotD |
Posted on 25-08-2017 12:57
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True. He just busts
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