The 2025 Vuelta a España begins with a Grande Partenza in Turin, marking the first-ever Italian start for the Spanish Grand Tour. Today’s opening stage offers sprinters a rare chance to take the red jersey on day one – something that hasn’t happened since Daniele Bennati’s victory in Vigo back in 2007.
2025 Vuelta a España stage 1 details
Date: Saturday, 23rd August
Distance: 186km
Start: Turin
Finish: Novara
Start time: 12:55 CEST
Estimated finish: 17:20 CEST
The route sets off from the grand Baroque palace of Venaria, nestled on the edge of Turin, before heading northwest through the Po Valley’s flatlands. With just one categorised climb – the category 3 La Serra at kilometre 69.8 – and a single intermediate sprint at Valdengo (km 95.5), this stage is almost tailor-made for the fast finishers. Unlike last year’s Giro d’Italia opener from the same palace, where Jhonatan Narváez triumphed from a reduced group after late climbing, there should be no such drama here. Expect the peloton to arrive en masse in Novara for the first big sprint showdown of this Vuelta.
Novara, surrounded by endless rice fields, is a fitting location for high-speed racing. It’s the birthplace of Italian legend Giuseppe Saronni, a double Giro d’Italia champion with 24 stage wins and a two-time stage winner at the Vuelta. On a flat finish like this, the contenders will need every ounce of Saronni-like speed to claim the first maillot rojo.
Photo Credit: GettyContenders
Jasper Philipsen starts as the overwhelming favourite. After winning stage one of the Tour de France this July, only to crash out on stage three, the Belgian will be eager to remind everyone of his dominance in flat sprints. Victory here would give him his second Grand Tour leader’s jersey of the year.
Mads Pedersen could prove Philipsen’s biggest rival. The Dane was unstoppable at the Giro d’Italia in May, claiming four stage wins, and while he prefers lumpier terrain, his finishing speed remains formidable.
Photo Credit: LaPresseCasper van Uden returns to Grand Tour sprinting after his Giro stage win in May, though his form has cooled slightly since then. The Movistar duo of Iván García Cortina and Orluis Aular add tactical intrigue – both are quick enough for the podium if the team commits fully.
Elia Viviani, hunting a 10th career Grand Tour stage win, would love to roll back the years with what would be a fourth Vuelta success. At the other end of the spectrum, Ethan Vernon makes his Vuelta debut and is a genuine dark horse after some strong finishes earlier this season. Filippo Ganna and Ben Turner could also feature if Ineos Grenadiers try something unconventional in the finale.
Prediction
Jasper Philipsen is the big favourite to win stage one and pull on the opening red jersey of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana.
