The 2025 Vuelta a España will begin in Piemonte, Italy, marking the first time the Spanish Grand Tour starts in the cycling-rich nation. The announcement, made in Turin, confirmed three stages in the region, including a mountain finish on stage 2 at Limone Piemonte, before the race transitions to France and eventually returns to Spain.
Scheduled to start on 23rd August 2025, this year’s Vuelta coincides with the race’s 90th anniversary. Turin will join Utrecht as one of only two cities to host the Grand Depart for all three Grand Tours. Stefano Lo Russo, mayor of Turin, described the event as “a proud moment for our city,” while race director Javier Guillén highlighted Piemonte’s historical importance to cycling, calling it “a region that has been essential in shaping the sport’s legacy.”
The race opens with a 183km route from Venaria Reale to Novara. A lone Category 3 climb at the Puerto Bienca-Tomalino occurs too far from the finish to influence the expected sprint finale. Stage 2 begins in Alba and concludes on the steep gradients of the Puerto Limonte after a 10km climb, offering climbers their first test. Stage 3 spans 139km between San Maurizio Canavese and Ceres, with the Category 2 Puerto Issiglio promising an attacking race.
Stage 4 will depart from Susa near the French border, with details of the finish still under wraps. The complete route will be unveiled in Madrid on 19th December, with organisers hinting at stage finishes in Andorra and the brutal Angliru climb later in the race.
The decision to begin in Italy reflects La Vuelta’s growing international focus. Guillén noted that this will be only the sixth foreign start for the race, following locations like Lisbon and Utrecht. The 2026 edition is already set to start in Monaco.
Piemonte, a regular host of cycling’s biggest events, further cements its reputation with this announcement. Recent highlights include Biniam Girmay’s victory in Turin during the 2024 Tour de France. The region’s connection to La Vuelta runs deep, with Italian riders securing 187 stage wins and six overall victories in the race’s history.
Guillén summarised the sentiment behind the Italian Grand Depart: “Starting La Vuelta in Piemonte not only showcases a beautiful region but honours the shared history of cycling in Italy and Spain.”
