Vuelta a Andalucia

Vuelta a Andalucia. final dal 21st Feb 2016 in Estepona © andalucia_com
Vuelta a Andalucia. final dal 21st Feb 2016 in Estepona © andalucia_com

VUELTA A ANDALUCIA (TOUR OF ANDALUCIA)

Vuelta a Andalucia 2024

Vuelta a Andalucia Mens Tour 2024

14th to 18 February 2024

Vuelta a Andalucia Womens Tour 2024

29 May to 2 June 2024

The Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road cycle race held annually since 1955; it normally takes place in February. The 2020 edition was one of the last sporting events held befor the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2021 it took place later in May due to the Coronavirus. In 2022 a womens 3 day event was inaugurated in in late April.

Since 2005, this has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI European Tour. The race usually takes place over five stage days. While it does not command anything like the spectators, or television and media coverage of La Vuelta (Tour of Spain), the Vuelta a Andalucia is known by the riders and team managers as a great opening season event, and as an alternative to the Volta ao Algarve, which takes place over the same days. Tour of Oman also coincides this week.  This race is renowned for its difficult mountainous terrain.

In fact the history of the Vuelta a Andalucia race goes back more than 80 years - the first race took place in 1925, organised by the secretary of the Unión Velocipédica Española, Miguel Artemán; but was not run again until 1955 when the Agrupación Ciclista Malagueña started organising it as an annual event.

From 1979 to 1986 it was called the Ruta Ciclista del Sol, and in 1987 it changed back to its original name Vuelta a Andalucia. In 1993 the name changed again to the present dual one: Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta del Sol.

The winning rider wears a red jersey, a blue jersey for max points, a green jersey for king of the mountains, a white jersey for the sprints.

2024 Race - 15 to 19 February - 70 Edition

The 70th edition of the Ruta del Sol-Vuelta a Andalucía was to be held from Wednesday 14 February to Sunday 18 February. However the first stage was cancelled by organisors just before the  11.00 start, although teams were reporting this on social media a few hours earlier. The reason was that Guardia Civil (police) had been drawn off the race to supervise farmer's protests taking place in Andalucia. Stage 2 was also cancelled on 20.00 hrs the evening before after a meeting of the technical committee and race organisors. A statement and a revised format was issued as a press release and published on social media, although the race website was not updated.

Stage 3 on Friday was a 5km uphill time trial in Alcaudete, Jaen province the original Stage 2 finish location. The stage, which started at the old train station in Alcaudete, was 4.95 km long and almost constantly uphill until the finish line in the castle above the town of Alcaudete. It was won by the Belgian Maxim Van Gils of the Lotto Destiny team in 8 min 17.43 seconds. 9 seconds ahead second place. 

Stage 4 was converted to be a circuit in Lucena, the original stage 4 finish location, of 100km finishing at the top of the Alto de Nuestra Señora de Araceli. This is where Alejandro Valverde won in 2012, Javier Pascual Llorente in 2003 and Marcelino Garcia in 2998. 
Stage 5 on Sunday was hoped to go ahead as planned.

However it was not to be, Stages 4 and five were also cancelled.

So on the race podium in La Linea was  The Belgian Maxim Van Gils (LTD) is the new winner of the Ruta del Sol Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía after spending a time of 8 minutes and 17 seconds in the uphill time trial of 5 kilometres that was held in the town of Alcaudete in Jaén and in which he beat the Italian of Bahrain Victorius, Antonio Tiberi (TBV) and the Spanish Juan Ayuso (UAD), who won by 10" to complete the podium of honour of the race. 

As for the rest of the podium, Antonio Tiberi was crowned with the mountains prize and Jefferson Cepeda, from Caja Rural, won the flying goal prize. The 'Andalusian lynx', Luis Ángel Maté (EUS), was the best Andalusian cyclist in the year of his retirement and Juan Ayuso (UAD) the best Spaniard. The best team of the Ruta del Sol Vuelta a Andalucía this year was UAE Team Emirates.

The top 10 of the day were followed by the three on the podium, Jefferson Cepeda (CJR), Tim Wellens (UAD), Sylvain Moniquet (UAD), Santiago Buitrago (TBV), Alex Baudin (DAT), Marc Soler (UAD) and Gonzalo Serrano (MOV).

The planned format of the race was in the traditional 5 stages totaling 850 kilometres with fourteen mountain passes; three first category, one second category and ten third category. The Vuelta a Andalucia is the first major test of the season for riders.

There were 15 teams taking part in 2024, seven of which will be World Tour teams; UAE Team, Bahrain-Victorious, Movistar, Jayco AlUla, Astana, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Decathlon AG2R. The race's reigning champion, Slovenian Tadej Pogačar of team UAE Emirates who won last year's Vuelta a Andalucia.

For the record the original course was:

Stage 1 - 162 km on 14th February from Almuñécar (Costa Tropical, Granada) to Cádiar (Granada), Route Map
Stage 2 - 192 km on 15th February from Vélez Málaga to Alcaudete (Jaen), Route Map

Stage 3 - 161 km on 16th February from Arjona (Jaén) to Pozoblanco (Córdoba), Route Map

Stage 4 - 167 km on 17th February from Córdoba to Lucena (Córdoba), Route Map

Stage 5 - 168 km on 18th February Benahavís (Málaga) – Puerto del Madroña - by pass Ronda - Benaojan - Cortes de la Frontera - Gaucin - San Pablo - Los Angeles - San Roque - La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz). Route Map

 

2024 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women - 31 May to 4 June - 3rd edition

The third edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía Elite Women 2024 will be held from 29 May to 2 June 2024 and as last yer will consist of five stages.

2023 Race - 15 to 19 February - 69 Edition

The 69th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía cycling competition was held between February 15 and 19, 2023 starting in Puente de Génave and finishing in Alhaurín de la Torre, over a total distance of 845 kilometers. The race was part of the UCI ProSeries 2023, second division world cycling calendar, within the UCI 2. Pro category.

The race was won by the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar of team UAE Emirates. Second was Mikel Landa (Spain) and third Santiago Buitrago (Colombia) both from Bahrain Victorious team. The final stage between Otura (Granada) and Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga) was won by Omar Fraile (Spain) (IDG team).

2023 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women - 31 May to 4 June - 2nd edition

Katrine Aalerud (Movistar Team) won the second edition of the women's Vuelta a Andalucí by 46 seconds ahead of Tamara Dronova-Banabolina (Israel-Premier Tech Roland) on third and final day to take the winners yellow jersey. The final stage (Estepona-Castellar de la Frontera) stage went to Mie Bjorndal (Norway National Team), who won the sprint to the finish ahead Aalerud.

2023 Stages:
Day 1: Wednesday 31st May. Alcalá la Real - La Zubia, 117 kms.
Day 2: Thursday 1st June.  Salobreña - Cómpeta, 95 kms.
Day 3: Friday 2nd June. Nerja - Álora, 134 kms.
Day 4: Saturday 3rd June. Pizarra - Mijas, 112 kms.
Day 5: Sunday 4th June Estepona - Castellar de la Frontera (Jaén), 95 kms.

2022 Race - 16 and 19 February - 68 Edition

The sixty-eighth edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucia (also known as the Ruta del Sol) took place between Febraury 16th and 20th, 2022. Starting in Ubrique, the race covered 837 kilometres in five stages. The route crossess the provinces of Cádiz, Córdoba, Malaga, Jaén, Córdoba and Granada, before circling back and finishing in Jaén. 22 teams took part in the race forming a peloton of 141 riders, of which 108 finished.

The wace was won by Wout Poels (Netherlands) of Bahrain Victorious. Second was Cristián Rodríguez (Spain) of TotalEnergies, third was Miguel Ángel López (Colombia) of Astana Qazaqstan.

2022 Stages:
Day 1: Wednesday February 16. Ubrique (Cádiz) - Iznájar (Córdoba), 201 kms.
Day 2: Thursday February 17th. Archidona (Malaga) - Alcalá la Real (Jaén), 151 kms.
Day 3: Friday February 18. Lucena (Córdoba) - Otura (Granada), 153 kms.
Day 4: Saturday February 19. Cúllar Vega (Granada) - Baza (Granada), 166 kms.
Day 5: Sunday February 20. Huesa (Jaén) - Chiclana de Segura (Jaén), 168 kms.

2022 Launch of Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women

2022 saw the launch of a UCI 2.1-level women's race, Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women, held from April 29 to May 1 in 2022. The race route was through the provinces of Malaga, Cadiz and Granada, with a total distance of 350 kilometres in three day stages.

2021 Race - 18 and 22 May - 67 edition

The sixty-seventh edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía was be held between May 18 and 22, and consisted of 807 kilometers in five stages with 17 mountain passes.

The tour will began on Tuesday, May 18, in Cala de Mijas, crossing the province of Malaga and Cadiz until reaching the finish line in Zahara de la Sierra after 152 kilometers and two mountain passes.

The second stage on Wednesday May 19 started from Iznájar (Córdoba) and finished in Alcalá la Real (Jaén) after a long 183 kilometers, with five mountain passes.

The third stage on Thursday 20 May it was the ‘Queen stage’in the province of Jaén, it began in Beas de Segura and finish in Villarodrigo after 175 kilometers and will have six mountain passes.

The fourth stage, on Friday 21st May began in Baza (Granada) to finish in the town of Cúllar Vega (Granada) after 183 kilometers and two mountain passes.

The final stage on Saturday the 22nd crossed the province of Almería from Vera to Pulpí, after a 114 kilometers including two mountain passes.

A first victory in the Vuelta a Andalucía for the Colombian Miguel Ángel López, with a total time of 21 hours 6 minutes and 55 seconds. Second place was for the Dutchman of Jumbo Visma, Antwan Tolhoek, 20 seconds behind the leader. The third place for the Spanish Julen Amezqueta 1:10 behind the winner. On the podium, the young man from Granada, Carlos Rodríguez, from INEOS, was the leading Andalucian. The winner of the mountain went to Luis Ángel Maté from Marbella.

2020 Race - 19 and 23 February - 66 edition

The 2020 Vuelta a Andalucía took place between 19 and 23 February 2020. It was the 66th edition and was rated as a 2.Pro event as part of the 2020 UCI Europe Tour and the 2020 UCI ProSeries.

Stages were:
19 February 2020 – Alhaurín de la Torre to Grazalema, 173.8 km
20 February 2020 – Sevilla to Iznájar, 198.1 km
21 February 2020 – Jaen to Úbeda, 176.9 km
22 February 2020 – Villanueva Mesía to Granada, 125 km
23 February 2020 – Mijas to Mijas, 13 km

Winner of the general classifications was Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark of the Astana team in 17h 47' 58".

2019 Race - 20 and 24 February - 65 edition

Stages were:
20 February Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Alcalá de los Gazules 170.5 km Medium mountain Stage winner Tim Wellens (BEL)
21 February Seville to Torredonjimeno 216.5 km Hilly stage winner Matteo Trentin (ITA)
22 February Mancha Real to La Guardia de Jaén 16.3 km Individual time trial winner Tim Wellens (BEL)
23 February Armilla to Granada 119.9 km Mountain stage winner Simon Yates (GBR)
24 February Villa de Otura to Alhaurín de la Torre 163.9 km winner Medium mountain stage Matteo Trentin (ITA)

Winner of the general classifications was Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark of the Astana team in 17h 42' 00".

2018 Race - 14 and 18 February - 64 edition

The 2018 Vuelta a Andalucía was the 64th edition of the cycle race and was held on 14 February to 18 February 2018. The race started in Mijas and finished in Barbate. The race was won by Tim Wellens(GER) of the Lotto-Soudal team in 17hrs 41' 50".

Stages were
14 February Mijas to Granada half mountain (197,6 km)
15 February Villa de Otura to La Guardia de Jaén mountain (140 km)
16 February Mancha Real - Herrera plain (165,1 km)
17 February Sevilla - Alcalá de los Gazules half mountain (191,2 km)
18 February Alcalá de los Gazules to Barbate half mountain (100 km)

RACE REPORTS

Vuelta a Andalucia 2017
Vuelta a Andalucia 2016
Vuelta a Andalucia 2015
Vuelta a Andalucia 2014
Vuelta a Andalucia 2013 and earlier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Michelle Chaplow Vuelta de Andalucia 2012 passed through Estepona port
Vuelta a Andalucia 2012 passed through Estepona

 

 

 

More information on the Vuelta a Andalucia website.

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