While cycling teams are still finishing the Vuelta or Cycling Challenge in Mallorca, they are probably casting an anxious eye at weather forecasts in the evening, when they are relaxing with their team mates. Thankfully, the famous 21-stage Vuelta 2017 won't arrive in Andalucia until August, when sunnier, warmer conditions will prevail. Nearly one quarter, or five stages, of the gruelling 3,297.7km long La Vuelta will be held in Andalucia between 30th August and 3rd September. The region missed out completely on the cycling race last year.
5-Stages held in Andalucia for La Vuelta 2017
Cyclists will start from Nimes in the South of France on 19th August this year, before making their way down the eastern shores of Spain. Among the Andalucian stages are Motril and Coin. The thrilling cycling race will also be coming to the cities of Malaga, Granada and Sevilla.
Expected to arrive in Andalucia on 30th August, when more than 200 cyclists ride from Murcia's Lorca to Almeria region's Calar Alto Observatorio as part of the 11th stage of La Vuelta.
Owners of Marbella holiday homes and local residents were able to see the cyclists as they made their way up to Caminito del Rey, when the Vuelta came to Andalucia in 2015.
On 31st August the cyclists will start from Motril and head to Antequera's famous dolmens, before tackling the longest leg of the Andalucian stages, the sweat-inducing 197 km stretching between Coin and Sevilla on 1st September.
However, the two toughest challenges facing the 200 cyclists will be the stages covering Ecija to Sierra de la Pandara and Alcala la Real to Alto Hoya in the Sierra Nevada. Here the cyclists will be forced to climb to dizzying altitudes of 1,675m each day, before they can freewheel downhill again and practically fly off to the Pyrenees. They will be heading off to Madrid for the final leg of the race on 10th September.