The Vuelta Femenina 2025 will begin on 4th May in Barcelona, marking another milestone for the cityโs growing prominence in professional cycling. Known for its historic architecture and vibrant streets, Barcelona has cemented its place as a global cycling hub, hosting the men’s Vuelta start in 2023 and set to welcome the Tour de France grand dรฉpart in 2026.
The upcoming Vuelta Femenina will open with two stages in Catalonia. The first will take place entirely within the city of Barcelona, offering spectators a chance to see the riders navigate its iconic streets. The second stage will venture through surrounding regions, concluding in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a location strongly supported by local authorities, including Lluรฏsa Moret, the cityโs mayor and president of the Diputaciรณn de Barcelona. These stages serve as a vital link in a larger strategy to establish Barcelona as a key player in international cycling.
A growing legacy for the Vuelta Femenina
This yearโs edition marks the third since the race was rebranded as the Vuelta Femenina in 2023, aligning it with its male counterpart. The transformation has been pivotal in raising the profile of womenโs cycling. Initially run as the Madrid Challenge from 2015 to 2019, the race expanded over time, increasing the number of stages and gaining more visibility. Since 2020, it has grown from a three-day event into a week-long race, allowing for greater depth and diversity in its routes.
Dori Ruano, a former professional cyclist and ambassador for the race, praised the progress. “The Vuelta Femenina has taken significant steps forward. It began with the womenโs Tour and now continues to grow. The race now stands as a platform to showcase not just the talent of the riders but also the evolving standards in womenโs cycling.”
Barcelona will also capitalise on its strong relationships with the race organisers, including ASO and Unipublic, ensuring seamless management of both the menโs and womenโs editions of the race. Ruano highlighted how this collaboration benefits the Vuelta Femenina: “The race no longer overlaps with the menโs event, allowing organisers to share infrastructure and elevate both competitions.”
Preparing for a global stage
Barcelonaโs decision to host the Vuelta Femenina is part of a broader push to use cycling events as a platform for showcasing the city to a worldwide audience. The opening stage will highlight some of Barcelonaโs most famous landmarks, with live broadcasts on Eurosport and Teledeporte expected to capture its beauty. Officials hope the race will draw both local residents and tourists to the streets, offering a free, accessible spectacle.
The timing of the first stage, set for a Sunday, is expected to boost attendance, as roads will be closed to traffic, creating a festival-like atmosphere. The event is not only a test for the organisers ahead of the Tour de France 2026 but also an opportunity to trial routes that will overlap with the menโs Tour grand dรฉpart, which begins with a time trial in the city.
A cycling capital in the making
In just three years, Barcelona will have hosted the starts of both the menโs and womenโs editions of La Vuelta and the opening of the Tour de France. These events, combined with its longstanding role as the finish of the Volta a Catalunyaโscheduled to end on 29th March in Montjuรฏcโhave positioned Barcelona as a cycling capital. The cityโs integration of professional racing with its cultural identity makes it an increasingly prominent player in the global cycling calendar.
Details of the exact routes for the Vuelta Femenina stages in Barcelona are expected to be revealed by 25th February, during an official city event related to the Tour de France 2026. For now, Barcelona continues to build its reputation as a city where cycling thrives, offering a world-class stage for both athletes and fans.
Main photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency