Vuelta 2018: Favourites

Vuelta a España 2018Simon Yates won the Vuelta a España in the 73rd edition of the race. The podium was rounded out by Enric Mas and Miguel Ángel López, while Thomas De Gendt took the polka dot jersey and Alejandro Valverde the green jersey. Pre-race favourites Nairo Quintana, Richie Porte and Vincenzo Nibali failed up to live to the expectation for different reasons. Both Porte and Nibali races the Vuelta in the aftermath of of crash at the Tour de France. (Slideshow route/profile)

Read about the overall contenders or click on the links in underneath scheme for the favourites to win individual stages. Obviously, all these articles were written before the start of the race(s).

Vuelta a España 2018: Favourites

Nr Date Favourites Type
1 Sa 25-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 1st stage ITT specialist for first red jersey ITT
2 Su 26-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 2nd stage Uphill sprint, or opportunity for attackers finish uphill
3 Mo 27-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 3rd stage For powerful speedsters hills flat finish
4 Tu 28-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 4th stage GC clash on first long climbs mountain finish
5 We 29-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 5th stage Sprinters after long downhill hills, flat finish
6 Th 30-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 6th stage Fast finishers showdown in San Javier vlak
7 Fr 31-8 Vuelta 2018 contenders 7th stage Finale for strong fast men hills
8 Sa 1-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 8th stage World Champion contra breakaway boys flat
9 Su 2-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 10th stage Climbers in La Covatilla mountain finish
Mo 3-9 Rest day
10 Tu 4-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 10th stage Fast finishers showdown flat
11 We 5-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 11th stage Hilly race with trying finale hills
12 Th 6-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 12th stage For late attackers flat
13 Fr 7-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 13th stage Demolition workers on iconic monster mountain mountain finish
14 Sa 8-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 14th stage Second installment of high altitude triptych mountain finish
15 Su 9-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 15th stage Iconic winner at Lagos de Covadonga mountain finish
Mo 10-9 Rest day
16 Tu 11-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 17th stage Perfect course for Rohan Dennis ITT
17 We 12-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 17th stage Horror arrival at Balcón de Bizkaia mountain finish
18 Th 13-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 18th stage Back to the fast men flat
19 Fr 14-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 19th stage Clash on long final climb mountain finish
20 Sa 15-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 20th stage Pyrenees offer climbers last chance mountains
21 Su 16-9 Vuelta 2018 contenders 21st stage Madrilenian sprint party flat

Vuelta a España 2018: Route map, height profiles, and more

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Vuelta a España 2018: All stages - source:lavuelta.comAll stages

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 1st stage: ITT in MalagaProfile 1st stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 2nd stage: Marbella and Caminito del ReyProfile 2nd stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 3rd stage: Mijas and Alhaurín de la Torre - source:lavuelta.comProfile 3rd stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 4th stage: Vélez-Málaga - La Alfaguara - source:lavuelta.comProfile 4th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 5th stage: Lanjarón - Roquetas de Mar - source:lavuelta.comProfile 5th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 6th stage: Huércal-Overa - San Javier. Mar Menor - source:lavuelta.comProfile 6th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 7th stage: Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcón - source:lavuelta.comProfile 7th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 8th stage: Linares - Almadén - source:lavuelta.comProfile 8th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 9th stage: Talavera de la Reina - La Covatilla - source:lavuelta.comProfile 9th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 10th stage: Salamanca - Bermillo de Sayago - source:lavuelta.comProfile 10th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 11th stage: Mombuey - Ribeira Sacra (Luintra) - source:lavuelta.comProfile 11th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 12th stage: Mondoñedo - Faro de Estaca de Bares - source:lavuelta.comProfile 12th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 13th stage: Candás Carreño - La Camperona - source:lavuelta.comProfile 13th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 14th stage: Cistierna - Les Praeres - source:lavuelta.comProfile 14th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 15th stage: Ribera de Arriba - Lagos de Covadonga - source:lavuelta.comProfile 15th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 16th stage: Santillana del Mar - Torrelavega - source:lavuelta.comProfile 16th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 17th stage: Getxo - Balcón de Bizkaia - source:lavuelta.comProfile 17th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 18th stage: Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida - source:lavuelta.comProfile 18th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 19th stage: Lleida - Naturlandia (And) - source:lavuelta.comProfile 19th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 20th stage: Escaldes - Engordany (And)- Collada de La Gallina (And) - source:lavuelta.comProfile 20th stage

Vuelta a España 2018 Profile 21st stage: Alcorón - Madrid - source:lavuelta.comProfile 21st stage

Vuelta a España 2018: Videos final 5 K by eRecce.com


Videos final 5 K

Vuelta a España 2018: Malaga and Madrid at Google MapsMalaga and Madrid at Google Maps

Vuelta a España 2018 stage 4: Details Puerto de Alfacar - source: lavuelta.comStage 4: details Puerto de Alfacar

Vuelta a España 2018 stage 9: Details Alto de la Covatilla - source:lavuelta.comstage 9: details Alto de la Covatilla

Vuelta a España 2018 stage 13: Details climb La Camperona - source: lavuelta.comstage 13: details La Camperona

Vuelta a España 2018 stage 15: Details Lagos de Covadonga - source lavuelta.comstage 15: details Lagos de Covadonga
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Watch the highlights of recent races here:

Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 1: ITT specialists for first red jersey

Rohan Dennis - Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 1: ITT specialists for first red jerseyLa Vuelta begins with an individual time trial in Málaga. The 8 kilometres course is fast, yet the riders face a punchy 1 kilometres climb at 5.5%. Cyclingstage.com brings you the favourites to ride into the first red leader's jersey in Spain.
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Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 2: Uphill sprint, or opportunity for attackers

Alejandro Valverde - Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 2: Uphill sprint, or chance for attackersThe Vuelta a España's 2nd stage is played out on a hilly terrain. The route is far from flat, but far from steep either. The closing climb is 5.1 kilometres at 3.3%.
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Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 3: For powerful speedsters

peter sagan 2018 - Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 3: PowersprintersThe 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España features quite some vertical metres - as per usual in Spain. But the ascents are doable, so odds are the race will come down to a bunch sprint.
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Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 4: GC clash on first long climbs

alejandro valverde 2018 - Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 4:The Vuelta a España's 4th stage offers a first and delicate taste of what's in store. The riders face a number of long uphills, while the last one climbs to the line. The ascents are not insanely steep though and tailor made for both young and old heroes to shine...
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Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 5: Sprinters after long downhill

Elia Viviani - Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 5: Sprinters after long downhillThe 5th stage of the Vuelta a España moves through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which is Europe's highest mountain range after the Alps, but this doesn't shine through in the route. The route is far from flat, but chances are the fast men will battle it out in arrival place Roquetas de Mar.
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More articlesVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 6: Fast finishers showdown in San JavierVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 7: Finale for strong fast menVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 8: World Champion contra breakaway boysVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 9: Climbers in La CovatillaVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 10: Fast finishers showdownVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 11: Hilly race with trying finaleVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 12: For (late) attackersVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 13: Demolition workers on monster mountainVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 14: High altitude triptych's second installmentVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 15: Iconic winner at Lagos de CovadongaVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 16: Perfect course for Rohan DennisVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 17: Horror arrival at Balcón de BizkaiaVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 18: Back to the fast menVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 19: Clash on long final climbVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 20: Pyrenees offer climbers last chanceVuelta 2018 Favourites stage 21: Madrilenian sprint partyVuelta 2018: GC Favourites