The Vuelta de España comes to the Costa del Sol

For three weeks, one of the greatest sporting events in Europe will be coming to the Costa del Sol as the Vuelta a España traverses large parts of Andalusia and Málaga province in particular.

In fact, the cycling race that belongs to the classic Big Three, including the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, will be starting off from Marbella this year, making the town the focal point of the sport and bringing images of its beauty into the homes of tens of millions of viewers around the world. The leading cyclists will kick-off with a time trial that leads from Puerto Banús via a stunning route to the centre of Marbella.

The honour of hosting not just a stage but the grand opening of the Vuelta is a particular coup for Marbella, and a chance to showcase itself in front of a global audience. Viewers will be able to see the elegant tree-lined avenues, stylish beachside areas, luxurious residential zones and beautiful scenery in full high definition while the world’s top teams and riders battle it out in the sun.

When it all starts on Saturday 22^nd August, there will be thousands of visitors – tourists and homeowners – in Marbella, who will join local residents to line the streets and add a great sense of occasion. Stage two sees a transition from the personal battle of the time trial to the standard race format, as the peleton takes off from Alhaurín de la Torre just inland from Fuengirola to head into the Andalusian highlands.

A gruelling but beautifully scenic mountain stage of 165 kilometres will culminate spectacularly within sight if the Caminito del Rey walk in El Chorro. Day three sees the riders leave from the pretty white mountain village of Mijas to follow a 164,6 kilometre arc that will take them into the Axarquia range and back into the avenues of Málaga city for an exciting finale.

The fourth and last day in this region starts in Estepona, west of Marbella, on a course into the Costa de la Luz, which culminates in the historic city of Cádiz. From here the stages meander through the hills and plains of Andalucía before leaving the region on the eighth day of racing and finally finishing on September 13^th in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid. By this stage almost 3,400 kilometres will have been covered and viewers will have been able to enjoy the scenery and sites of Spain thanks to The Vuelta de España– among the most impressive of which will be our very own Marbella.

By Fai M. Rodríguez