Vingegaard Leads 2025 Vuelta a España on a Tough Climbing Route

The 2025 Vuelta a España unfolds on August 23, with 21 stages spanning Italy, France, Andorra and Spain, and a finish in Madrid on September 14. Led by Jonas Vingegaard, who will ride for VismaLease a Bike, the race opens in Turin and is expected to deliver a dramatic three weeks of climbing, sprinting and stage-hunting. The field is notable for the absence of Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič, but the competition remains deep and unpredictable, with a strong contingent led by UAE Team Emirates XR G’s João Almeida and Juan Ayuso and a host of other climbers eager to challenge for red.

Vingegaard arrives as the main favorite, supported by a seasoned team built for a three-week battle. Sepp Kuss and Matteo Jorgenson provide climbing leadership in the mountains, while Victor Campenaerts, Dylan van Baarle, Wilco Kelderman, Ben Tulett and Axel Zingle round out a lineup designed to cover every scenario from sprint finishes to long grinds up steep ramps. The team’s leadership has been clear: Jonas is the leader and the biggest chance for overall victory, a message reinforced by his own commitment to starting strong and racing from the opening miles of the race.