Vuelta 2024: Return to the Lagos, final time and new start in Lisbon in exchange for two million euros

Reunion with La Santina, the protector of cyclists. The 2024 Vuelta recovers the iconic summit of Lagos de Covadonga, crowned 40 years ago by Marino Lejarreta after being exhibited in the splendid places of La Huesera, the Mirador de la Reina and the Ercina and Enol reservoirs. El Junco de Bérriz was the best climber of the 1983 round, won by Bernard Hinault. The Frenchman's ride through the mountains of Ávila together with the Basque and Vicente Belda remains in history, in which he humiliated the leader Julián Gorospe. Since then, the Lakes became an emblem of the Vuelta. The Picos de Europa mountain has been climbed 22 times, the last winner was Primoz Roglic, in 2021. Pedro Delgado, Lucho Herrera and Laurent Jalabert are the only ones who have won twice.

The cliffs of Covadonga are the main attractions of an edition presented this Tuesday at the Marriott Auditorium hotel in Madrid. The test will begin on August 17 in Lisbon and will end on September 8 in Madrid, with visits to Portugal, Extremadura, Andalusia and the northern area. The center and east, excluded. The Portuguese capital will host the opening for the second time in its history, the previous one was in 1997, an edition won by the Swiss Alex Zülle.

The curtain will rise with a 12 kilometer time trial. The second stage will take place between Cascais and Ourém, the third will start in Lousã and will end in Castelo Branco. Portugal will host the first three days after contributing two million euros, an investment that they hope to recover with interest due to the arrival of the Vuelta caravan (3,000 people), tourists and fans.

Cuitu Negro

The entry into Spain will take place on August 20, starting in Plasencia and ending in Pico Villuercas, the first appointment with the mountain, with three kilometers on cement and 16% ramps.. Then the platoon will travel to Seville and Córdoba. In the vicinity of Granada there will be a double promotion to Hazallanas before the move to Ponteareas (Pontevedra), the cradle of Alvaro Pino and Delio Rodriguez. The 13th stage will end in the port of Ancares, where 'Purito' Rodríguez and Alberto Contador won. On this occasion, for the first time, the Leonese slope will be ascended. The 15th will be crucial, with the very tough climb to Cuitu Negru, in the Pajares pass, after a double pass through the Colladiella.

The last week will start with the media visit to Lagos de Covadonga and will conclude with a tremendous triptych. The event on Friday, August 6 will end at the top of Moncalvillo, a first category where Roglic won in 2020. Saturday's is the queen stage, with a chain route of seven ascents between Cantabria and Burgos, ending at the top of Picón Blanco, with more than eight kilometers in length and an average slope of 9%.

On Sunday the new closing of Madrid will arrive. Javier Guillén has dispensed with the traditional walk through the center of the capital to opt for a 22-kilometer individual time trial with a flat profile, starting in the Telefónica District and ending in Gran Vía. A tachycardia finish for a round in the that the American Sepp Kuss will defend the title and the presence of Juan Ayuso, Carlos Rodríguez and Nairo Quintana are expected. Four climbers for a test that looks upwards, with eight mountain stages and five medium mountain stages.