Vuelta a Espana

Dates: August 17 - September 11, 2022
Stages: 21
Length: 3280.5km
Start: Utrecht (Netherlands)
Finish: Madrid
TV Coverage (UK): Eurosport, GCN+

Key links: Route | Start list | How to watch |Standings

The Vuelta a España is the final Grand Tour of the 2022 season, with the race following the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the WorldTour calendar.

Starting with three stages in the Netherlands - delayed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic - the Vuelta travels across Spain from stage four and features eight gruelling summit finishes, including Sierra Nevada. The Asturias, Basque Country and  southern Spain, the 2022 edition will, naturally, be made even more difficult by the late August and early September sun.

The finish returns to Madrid once again this year, after a brief hiatus where the race visited Santiago de Compostela for a final day time trial. The day is just over 100km long and will likely see the sprinters contest the conclusion to what is expected to be a thrilling race.

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) has won the race three years in a row, from 2019 to 2021, and it is likely the Slovenian will return to defend his crown once again in 2022. While the start list isn't yet confirmed, he is expected to face competition from Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), 2016 winner Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic) and recent Giro winner Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe).

Elsewhere, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) could make a return to racing following a tumltuous 2022 where he badly crashed at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, before then having his progress halted by contracting Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will compete in the race he won in 2009 for the final time, as he retires at the end of the season at 42-years-old. With the race making a brief visit to Valverde's hometown of Murcia, expect a rousing reception. Indeed, the Spaniard will likely be cheered on from every corner of Spain throughout the three-week race.

Vuelta a España 2022 route

Vuelta a España: past winners

2000: Roberto Herasdagger (Esp) Kelme–Costa Blanca
2001: Ángel Casero (Esp) Festina
2002: Aitor González (Esp) Kelme–Costa Blanca
2003: Roberto Heras (Esp) U.S. Postal Service
2004: Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros
2005: Roberto Heras (Esp) Liberty Seguros–Würth
2006: Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
2007: Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
2008: Alberto Contador (Esp) Astana
2009: Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Caisse d'Epargne
2010: Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas–Doimo
2011: Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2012: Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank
2013: Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack–Leopard
2014: Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff–Saxo
2015: Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
2016: Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
2017: Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2018: Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton–Scott
2019: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
2020: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma
2021: Primož Roglič (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma