Running from Saturday August 24th to Sunday September 15th 2013, the 68th Vuelta a España will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,319 kilometres. With 13 mountain stages including 11 mountain top finishes, this is a super hard route. Official website of Vuelta a España.

Stages 14, 15 and 16 will be in the Pyrénees. On stage 14 there will be a mountain top finish in Andorre at Collada de la Gallin 1550m altitude. This comes after crossing Puerto de Envalira, at 2409m the highest tarmac road in the Pyrenees. The descent from Puerto de Envalira will include 3km in the Envalira Tunnel.

Stage 15 will be an unusual day. In the heart of the Pyrenees, the peloton will face the longest stage, more than 230 kilometers from La Seu d'Urgell to Peyragudes in France. The mountain top finish where Alejandro Valverde won the last stage of the Tour de France in 2012. There are 4 mountains before the final 3km climb to the finish, the smallest of these is Col de Peyresourde at 1590m. A bad day on this stage will buried all possibilities of victory. This will be the first stage finish in France since Michael Rasmussen won at Cambasque in 2003. It will be a tribute to the 100th edition of the Tour de France. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) when questioned about the stage said “there’s so much climbing it’s almost frightening.”


Port de la Bonnaigua 2070m.


Contador said that the 232 kilometre mammoth Pyrenean stage, featuring four first category climbs, “the sort I really like because it’s a real test of strength.”


Peyragudes

Stage 16 also makes a nod to history. The stage is in honour of Fernando Escartin, one of the best climbers that Spain has produced and one of the best cyclists to come from the Pyrenees. The mountain top finish at Formigal Ski Station will mark the 40th anniversary of the first mountain top finish in La Vuelta. That stage to Formigal in 1972 was won by Jose Manuel Fuente.

Stage 20 will finish on Alto de l'Angliru. It will be the 6th time the vuelta has ridden this super steep climb in Asturias. Basically if you're not a good climber, try an easier race like Le Tour de France.


These stages have the following profiles:

• 6 flat stages
• 13 mountain stages
• 1 team time-trial stage
• 1 individual time-trial stage

Distinctive aspects of the race

• 2 rest days
• 27 km team time-trial
• 38 km individual time-trial stage
• 41 mountain passes and hills

New stage towns
Vilanova de Arousa, Lalín / A Estrada, Sober, Guijuelo, Antequera, Torredelcampo, Maella, Valls, Bagà, Graus, Leganés / Parquesur New finishes
Baiona. Alto do Monte da Groba, Mirador de Lobeira / Vilagarcía de Arousa, Fisterra. La Etapa del Fin del Mundo, Lago de Sanabria, Mairena de Aljarafe, Estepona. Alto de Peñas Blancas, Güéjar Sierra. Alto de Hazallanas, Tarazona, Castelldefels, Peyragudes (Francia).