For the first time in its history, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux will be at the start of the Vuelta a Espana in 2021. This Thursday, February 11th, the organization unveiled the route of the third and last Grand Tour of the calendar, which this year is exclusively scheduled within the Spanish borders. Amaury Sport Organization wanted to create a cultural theme around this “Vuelta de las Catedrales”. The race will start on August 14 with a prologue of 8 kilometers in front of the Cathedral of Burgos and will end after three weeks, on September 5th, again with an effort against the clock of 33 kilometers. This year, the city that received the privilege of closing the Vuelta is Santiago de Compostela. By doing so, the organizers took a break with the tradition of the criterium in the streets of Madrid.
In addition to these two individual time trials, the route includes seven mountain stages, six flat stages, four medium mountain stages and two hilly stages. The flat stages are mainly concentrated in the first week around the province of Burgos, but the contenders for the general classification will have no opportunity to rest on their laurels. Indeed, they will have to cope with a constant risk of echelons and the finish of the third stage, considered a flat one, will be atop Picon Blanco.
From northern Spain, the peloton will then head to the Mediterranean coast in the northeast for a first mountain stage. On the seventh day, the new ascent of the Balcón de Alicante will be the arena of the first explanations in the mountains. Just before the first rest day, the peloton will face another summit finish atop the famous Alto de Velefique, the first of three hors catégorie climbs. After the second rest day, the peloton will head to Asturias, with finishes at the ruthless Lagos de Covadonga (seventeenth stage) and for the first time at the Alto d’El Gamoniteiru (eighteenth stage). Now that the entire route has been unveiled, the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux performance team is able to refine its plans in the fight for the red jersey and stage victories.
Aike Visbeek (Performance manager):
“At first glance, this Vuelta route makes me very enthusiastic. By choosing not to go through the Pyrenees, Andorra and hold the royal sprint in the capital, the organizers have decided to push aside certain elements of tradition. But one thing remains certain: the parcours promises a real spectacle. Small gaps between the favorites can produce three exciting weeks. This balanced course will offer opportunities for climbers, sprinters and puncheurs to shine. There are especially opportunities for this last category and for our team, Andrea Pasqualon has the qualities and could certainly take advantage of this. As for the general classification, there are several options available to us, but a decision will be made later in the season. With Jan Hirt and Louis Meintjes, for example, we have two excellent assets. For what will be our first Vuelta, we want to support one of our talented young climbers so that he can gain valuable experience. We are convinced that, in our team, we have the arguments to take advantage of this diverse course, which whatever happens will favor the more complete riders. “
