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Which Vuelta a España Stage?
Which Stages of the Vuelta a España Should I Visit?

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So you're planning on watching some of the Vuelta a España? Then you will have one question on your mind...

Which Stages of the Vuelta a España Should I Visit?

This depends on whether you're looking for the ultimate bicycling experience or if you want to combine the bikes with other touristy activities.

If you'd rather leave the decisions to the experts, there is a number of Vuelta a España Tours you can take.

I Want to See Spain's Greatest Cities

The biggest concentration of grand Spanish cities is in the early part of the tour. The first three stages take place in Granada, Jaen and Cordoba, and Seville isn't far away.

Stage 1: Granada (time trial)
Stage 2: Granada to Jaen
Stage 3: Jaen to Cordoba

Toledo (where Stage 6 finishes) and Segovia (where stage 19 ends) are also worth visiting.

Stage 6: Ciudad Real to Toledo
Stage 19: Las Rozas to Segovia

Note that the day after Stage 6 is a rest day, so you can explore nearby Madrid before heading up to the next stage.

I Want to See the Most Exciting Stages

The most exciting stages are the time trials. This is because there will be cyclists going by all day long, rather than them flying by you in one big pack.

The time trials are the first stage (in Granada), Stage 5 (Ciudad Real) and Stage 20 (La Granja to Navacerrada).

Stage 1: Granada (time trial)
Stage 5: Ciudad Real (time trial)
Stage 20: La Granja to Navacerrada (time trial)

If you want to see one of the most grueling bike stages in Europe, you should visit Angliru on Day 13.

Stage 13: San Vicente la Barquera to Angliru

I Want to See Spain's Beautiful Scenery

The countryside is breathtaking no matter where you go. Bike races like mountains, and you'll see them in Granada (Stage 1), in the Pyrenees stages (Stages 7-9) and the green mountains around Stages 13 and 14.

Stage 1: Granada (time trial)
Stage 7: Barbastro to Andorra
Stage 8: Andorra to Pla de Beret
Stage 9: Viella to Sabiñánigo
Stage 13: San Vicente la Barquera to Angliru
Stage 14: Oviedo to Estacion Invernal Fuentes Invierno

I Want to See the Best of Spain's Architecture

You're spoiled for choice. You have the Alhambra in Granada, beautiful cathedrals in Burgos and Zaragoza, the walled city of Toledo and the aqueduct and alcazar in Segovia. The highest concentration of Romanesque churches in the world are in Zamora.

Stage 1: Granada (time trial)
Stage 6: Ciudad Real to Toledo
Stage 10: Sabiñánigo to Zaragoza
Stage 11: Calahorra to Burgos
Stage 16: Ponferrada to Zamora
Stage 19: Las Rozas to Segovia

If you do want to move between cities a lot, your best base to see a few stages would be Oviedo. The tour bunches up around Oviedo for Stages 13, 14 and 15 and you could do day trips from the city to watch them.

Stage 13: San Vicente la Barquera to Angliru
Stage 14: Oviedo to Estacion Invernal Fuentes Invierno
Stage 15: Cudillero to Ponferrada