Every year when the Vuelta starts, it is a treat. In 2021 too, it was a wonderful edition. This big round is a joy for spectators to watch. Not only because of the tension, as the Vuelta is often decided on seconds rather than minutes, but also because of the many, unknown climbs and goat trails they manage to find every year.
Spain is a wonderful cycling country anyway. The well-known regions like Catalonia, Mallorca, Tenerife and the Basque Country are cut-and-dried. But there is so much more. We pick out three regions/spots through which the Vuelta will pass this year and where you too should necessarily cycle. The Vuelta will show you Spain!
1. Castilla y Leon - Burgos
Every year there is the Tour of Burgos. A small stage race around this 175,000-strong municipality in Castilla y Leon, in the north of Spain. In the 2021 Vuelta as well as the Vuelta a Burgos, they grabbed the magnificent Espinosa De Los Monteros. Picon Blanco. 7.6kilometres at 9.3% and that for a climb few know about. This one is as much as 100km in a straight line. In that respect, you're better off heading east to the Espacia Natural de la Sierra de La Demanda. That's a mouthful, but you can climb brilliantly there. With friendly climbs like the Valle Del Sol but also the Alto Cruz de la Demanda you can get away with it!
The landscape is otherwise nice and rolling anyway, but you can also opt for flatter routes. Which is a big tip: the Via Verde, but on a bike that can also go off-road. Roads are relatively flat and give stunning views. You can also start in Burgos on the Camino del Cid, on the trail of knight Rodrigo Diaz 'El Cid'.
2. Galicia
Anyone who has watched the series 'Farina' on Netflix can imagine something about the north-western part of Spain. It is very green there, which does indicate one thing: RAIN! It can be wet there, but still. Of course, a visit to Santiago de Compostela should not be missed. Maybe for form's sake walk the last bit. But also from Vigo via the lighthouse to the Cabo Silleiro is highly recommended. A beautiful route along the coast with great views. A trip to Monte Aloia is also highly recommended.
Alto da Groba, which was in the 2021 Vuelta is really a calf bite, especially the first 6km, and in the same stage they go over the Alto Castro de Herville, with an old-fashioned Spanish bit of raking at 15-16%. Jaiks.
Shown above: the Alto de Fiuco, in the north-east of this province! Pity only about the many windmills but in this picture it is still beautiful! There is plenty to see in the area and you can indulge your (climber's) heart.
3. Extremadura
This region is skipped by almost everyone. Rightly so? In the 2021 Vuelta, they ride from the town of Don Benito to Pico Villuercas. Sounds like boring, but don't forget they have to cross a kind of Wall of Huy on the way in the form of the Collado de Ballesteros (2.8km at 14% average!). The final climb of 14.5km at 6.2% also has a few tough sections. Of course, the region also has beautiful places like Badajoz and the town of Merida. Surely, that is 'the place to be' for owners of a piece of Taiwanese aluminium or carbon.
What is cool though: the short climb to Castillo de Feria, for example from Merida or from the slightly more southerly Almendralejo (just for that name alone!). So you see: the Vuelta shows you Spain!
For more info on the Vuelta - Tour of Spain go to the site of La Vuelta
For more info on travelling to Spain, you should visit the site of the traffic agency.
