The 2024 Vuelta a España is set to kick off on Saturday with an individual time trial in Lisbon, Portugal, marking the start of what promises to be one of the most open and unpredictable editions in recent years. The race, covering 3,265 kilometers over 21 stages, will conclude with a final time trial in Madrid on September 8.Three-time Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic is considered a top contender, despite facing uncertainty due to lingering pain from a crash in the Tour de France. Roglic, now riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, remains optimistic, stating, ‘We must continue to hope from the first day and see how it goes. I’m here to do my best’.Defending champion Sepp Kuss leads Jumbo-Visma, entering the race with cautious confidence after winning the Vuelta a Burgos earlier this month. Kuss downplayed expectations, saying, ‘I don’t see myself clearly as a big favorite for the general victory’.Other strong contenders include Richard Carapaz, João Almeida, and Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates. Almeida and Yates have expressed confidence in their partnership, with Yates noting, ‘We’ve shown it can work. In the Vuelta, it’s a bit different, the level is better’.The race route will pass through Portugal, various regions of Spain including Extremadura, Andalusia, and the Basque Country, before the final time trial in Madrid. With multiple mountain stages and two individual time trials, the course offers a balanced challenge that could keep the general classification tight until the end.
Key points
- The 2024 Vuelta a España starts on Saturday with an individual time trial in Lisbon.
- Three-time champion Primoz Roglic is a top contender despite recent injuries.
- Defending champion Sepp Kuss leads Jumbo-Visma but downplays expectations.
- The race covers 3,265 kilometers over 21 stages, concluding in Madrid on September 8.
Contradictions👾While Primoz Roglic is considered a top contender, he also faces uncertainty due to lingering injuries, creating some doubt about his performance potential.
