The first Grand Tour of the year: Vuelta España Femenina

The classics season has wrapped up, and now the Grand Tour season takes over, starting with the Women's Vuelta a España on Sunday, May 4th. This year's race will feature seven thrilling stages before it wraps up May 10th. The stages will take place across a variety of terrains. From a flat team time trial in Barcelona to fast sprints, challenging hilly stages, and mountain-filled climbs, the Women's Vuelta promises excitement from start to finish.

Take a look at the full overview below:

An overview of the 7 stages of Vuelta España Femenina (May 4th→10th)

Stage 1

The first stage of the Vuelta España Femenina is an 8.1 km flat Team Time Trial through the streets of Barcelona. The course is rather untechnical and will allow the big motors to use their power. Like all other Team Time Trials, this stage also requires timing, concentration, and teamwork to secure the best possible time for the team, which can be especially important for those with a GC rider they want to keep in the game. Due to the short nature of the stage and the terrain coming up, the time differences are not necessarily decisive, but they could play an important role. After all, last year's TDFF was decided by 4 seconds... so every second counts!

Apart from important GC time, there is also a stage win and the leader's jersey up for grabs for the team that sets the fastest time after the 8.1 km.

Stage 2

Stage 2 is a hilly one with 1,450 meters of climbing on a 99 km course (the shortest of the stages with a joint start). The stage includes a 10.2 km Category 2 climb at a 4.1% gradient, where a strong breakaway could possibly form. After the climb, there’s a descent, followed by about 65 km of rolling terrain, before another descent awaits. After this descent, just under 10 nearly flat kilometers remain toward the finish line, where a possible sprint for the riders who have survived the hilly part of the stage awaits, if not a strong breakawait have keept away.

Stage 3

After a hilly stage where some sprinters might have struggled, Stage 3 is a 132.4 km flat stage. It will likely be an uneventful stage until the final kilometers, where teams will set up their sprinters to fight for the stage win. However, wind could possibly play a role, and if the conditions are right, it could create some chaos. Teams with GC ambitions and/or ambitions to win the stage will need to keep an eye on this.

Stage 4

Stage 4 presents an opportunity to test climbing legs before the upcoming mountain stages. The stage is 111.6 km long with 1,475 m of elevation.

Halfway through the stage, riders tackle the first real challenge of the day with the Category 2 climb Alto del Moncayo (5.5 km at 5.5%). After the descent and a flat section, it is back uphill towards the Category 3 climb Puerto de El Buste (5 km at 5.4%), which peaks with around 10 km to go. After the summit, the course is downhill toward the finish, where a breakaway group or a reduced group could be fighting for the win, or potentially a solo attacker.

Stage 5

Stage 5 is the first real mountain stage and the time to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to climbing. It is a day likely to see some GC action and possibly a change in the Maillot Rojo. The first two-thirds of the race aren't too challenging, but with around 25 km to go, the Category 2 climb Alto de Rozavientos (4 km at 8.1%) awaits, followed by a descent. Then, the riders will face the final climb of the day, with the finish line at the top in form of the Category 1 climb Lagunas de Neila (6.8 km at 8.7%).

Stage 6

Stage 6 offers another chance for the fastest women, as it is likely to end in a sprint. This could also mean that it will be the deciding stage for the green jersey, if the competition for it has not already been settled, as it is the last sprint stage. Apart from the sprint at the end, we might also get lucky and see some crosswinds, leading to echelons if the wind is strong enough. This could cause action both in the GC battle and among the stage contenders.

Stage 7

The finale and potentially decisive stage of the 2025 edition of the Vuelta España Femenina is also the longest, with its 152.6 km. And it’s not just flat kilometers. The course takes the riders up three mountains in the second half of the race. The start of the stage may not include any categorized climbs, but it is definitely not completely flat either. This could provide a great opportunity for a strong breakaway to form, potentially with some satellite riders for the main GC and stage contenders.

After about 30 km, the riders will reach a descent. Following that, a valley awaits before the first categorized climb of the day: Alto de la Colladona (5.5 km at 7.4%). This climb peaks with about 67 km to the finish line. On the other side of this summit, a descent follows before the riders take on the Category 1 climb Alto de la Colladiella (6.4 km at 8.2%), which tops out with about 40 km to go. With 10.3 km remaining, the riders will face the final climb, the Category 1 Alto de Cottobello (10.3 km at 8%).

These three climbs lay out the route, but it is up to the riders to create the race and decide what will unfold. However, they definitely provide plenty of opportunities for exciting racing, especially if the GC is still up for grabs. While the exact strategy of the race remains uncertain, one thing is for sure: at the summit of the final climb, the winner of the 2025 Vuelta España Femenina will be crowned, along with the winner of Stage 7. Who knows perhaps it will be the same rider taking double glory!

And then, after these 7 stages, the Vuelta España Femenina will be over, and the 7 stages will have crowned their winners, while the four jerseys will have found their rightful holders. Who will claim the coveted Maillot Rojo, the points, mountains, and best young rider jerseys? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: it is going to be a thrilling ride to the finish!