Vuelta a Andalucia

 

VUELTA A ANDALUCIA (TOUR OF ANDALUCIA)

by Chris Chaplow

The Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road cycle race held annually since 1955; it normally takes place in February. The 2020 edition was one of the last sporting events held before the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2021 it took place later in May due to the Coronavirus. In 2022 a women's 3 day event was inaugurated in in late April, moved to late May for 2023 and 2025, scheduled for mid October for 2025 but reduced to one day. 

Since 2005, this has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI European Tour. The race usually takes place over five stage days. While it does not command anything like the spectators, or television and media coverage of La Vuelta (Tour of Spain), the Vuelta a Andalucia is known by the riders and team managers as a great opening season event, and as an alternative to the Volta ao Algarve, which takes place over the same days. Tour of Oman also coincides this week.  This race is renowned for its difficult mountainous terrain.

In fact the history of the Vuelta a Andalucia race goes back more than 80 years - the first race took place in 1925, organised by the secretary of the Unión Velocipédica Española, Miguel Artemán; but was not run again until 1955 when the Agrupación Ciclista Malagueña started organising it as an annual event.

From 1979 to 1986 it was called the Ruta Ciclista del Sol, and in 1987 it changed back to its original name Vuelta a Andalucia. In 1993 the name changed again to the present dual one: Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta del Sol.

The winning rider wears a red jersey, a blue jersey for max points, a green jersey for king of the mountains, a white jersey for the sprints.

 

2026 Ruta del Sol Race - Wed, 18 Feb 2026 – Sun, 22 Feb 2026 - 72th Edition

The 72nd edition of the Ruta del Sol, also known as the Vuelta a Andalucía, will start in the village of Benahavís in Málaga on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The 163-kilometre route includes three mountain passes: the First Category Puerto del Madroño, the Third Category Puerto del Viento and the Third Category Puerto del Abejas. The race will wind its way through the Sierra de las Nieves, passing El Burgo, Yunquera, Alozaina, Guaro, Monda, Cártama and Estación de Cártama, before finishing in Pizarra.

The second stage on Thursday 19 February 2026 will take place in La Axarquía. It will start in Torrox, passing through Nerja, La Herradura, Almuñécar, Jete, Puerto de la Cabra (first category), Jayena, Arenas del Rey, Ventas de Huelma, and the third-category La Malahá Pass. It will then continue down to Las Gabias and Alhendín, finishing in Otura.

The third stage will start in Jaén on Friday 20 February 2026. This demanding 180-kilometre stage includes climbs over two third-category mountain passes: Alto de Santa Ana and Puerto de Peñallana. It will pass through Fuente del Rey, Torredelcampo, Torredonjimeno, Arjona, Villanueva de la Reina, La Higuera, Andújar, Marmolejo, Arjonilla, Alharilla and Porcuna, before finishing in Lopera.

On Saturday 21 February 2026, the fourth stage will start in Montoro, Córdoba province, and finish in Pozoblanco, in the heart of the Valle de los Pedroches. This stage is 166 kilometres long and includes the Alto de Españares (Second Category). The Kilómetro de Oro (Golden Kilometre) will be held, allowing riders to earn bonus seconds towards the general classification. The route will go via Venta del Charco, Cardeña, Villanueva de Córdoba, Torrecampo, Dos Torres, El Guijo, Pedroche, Añora and Pozoblanco.

The fifth stage on Sunday, 22 February 2026, is a 167-kilometre route from La Roda de Andalucía (Seville) to Lucena (Córdoba). The final victory will likely be decided during the two consecutive climbs to the Second Category Alto de la Primera Cruz, which are located very close to the finish line in the centre of Lucena. The peloton will pass through Pedrera, Gilena, Estepa and Herrera in Seville, as well as Puente Genil, Montalbán, La Rambla, Fernán Núñez, Montilla — where there will be an intermediate sprint — Aguilar de la Frontera and Monturque. This will be the fifth time that Lucena has hosted a stage finish in the Andalusian race, although the last time was in 2015 when the Andalusian rider Juanjo Lobato won. Previous winners in this town include Alejandro Valverde (2012), Javier Pascual Llorente (2003) and Marcelino García (1998).

2026 Stages:
Stage 1 - 164 km Benahavís (Málaga) - Pizarra (Málaga)
Stage 2 - 139 km Torrox (Málaga) - Otura (Granada)
Stage 3 - 181 km Jaén (Jaén) - Lopera (Jaén)
Stage 4 - 166 km Montoro (Córdoba) – Pozoblanco (Córdoba)
Stage 5 - 167 km La Roda de Andalucía (Sevilla) – Lucena (Córdoba)

2026 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women - 24-26 April 2026

The 2026 Vuelta Ciclista Andalucía Elite Women (5th edition) is scheduled as a UCI 2.1 stage race in Spain from April 24–26, 2026. This prestigious event features three days of competitive road racing for Elite Women, showcasing top teams and talent in the region.

2025 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women - 11 October 2025

The fourth edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía Elite Women 2025 was held on a single day in Torrox - Saturday 11th October 2025. This reduction from three to one day was made for economic reasons. Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) won the 2025 Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia Elite Women, followed by Usoa Ostolaza and Mareille Meijering in second and third place, respectively.

Stage 1 - 133 km inland La Axarquia Circuit departing Torrox village at 12.00 hrs via Torrox, 639m Alto de Portichuelo, Competa, Sayalonga, Algarrobo, Algarrobo-Costa, returning by the coast, El Morache, Torrox-Costa, Torrox.

 

2025 Ruta del Sul Race - Wed, 19 Feb 2025 – Sun, 23 Feb 2025 - 71th Edition and Centenary Edition

Pavel Sivakovwon the 2025 Vuelta a Andalucía for UAE Team Emirates.

The 27-year-old, who switched his sporting allegiance from Russia to France in 2022, dominated the general classification on four of the five stages. He took control on the second stage, overtaking Red Bull-BORA's Maxim Van Gils, and maintained his lead for the rest of the race. 

Clément Berthet (Decathlon-AG2R) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5). Pidcock, who started as the favourite, stayed in contention but was unable to challenge Pavel. 

Catalan Marc Soler, also with the UAE team, was the best placed Spanish rider, while José Manuel Díaz Gallego from Jaén (Burgos BH) was the best Andalucian.

The final two stages were won by Spaniards. Diego Uriarte (Kern Pharma) in Alhaurín de la Torre on Saturday and Jon Barrenetxea (Movistar) in the final stage in La Linea on Sunday.

2025 Stages:
Stage 1 - 162 km on 19th February from Torrox over Mirador de la Axarquía, Alto del Zurrón, Alto de Periana, Alto de Canillas, Alto de Frigiliana fininshing at the Cuevas de Nerja. Route Map
Stage 2 - 133 km on 20th February from Alcaudete to Torredelcampo (Jaen) Route Map
Stage 3 - 162 km on 21st February from Arjona (Jaén) to Pozoblanco (Córdoba), Route Map
Stage 4 - 193 km on 22nd February from Córdoba city to Alhaurin del la Torre Route Map
Stage 5 - 168 km on 23rd February Benahavís (Málaga) – Puerto del Madroña - by pass Ronda - Benaojan - Cortes de la Frontera - Gaucin - San Pablo - Los Angeles - San Roque - La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz). Route Map

 

2024 Race - 15 to 19 February - 70th Edition

The 70th edition of the Ruta del Sol-Vuelta a Andalucía was to be held from Wednesday 14 February to Sunday 18 February. However the first stage was cancelled by organisors just before the  11.00 start, although teams were reporting this on social media a few hours earlier. The reason was that Guardia Civil (police) had been drawn off the race to supervise farmer's protests taking place in Andalucia. Stage 2 was also cancelled on 20.00 hrs the evening before after a meeting of the technical committee and race organisors. A statement and a revised format was issued as a press release and published on social media, although the race website was not updated.

Stage 3 on Friday was a 5km uphill time trial in Alcaudete, Jaen province the original Stage 2 finish location. The stage, which started at the old train station in Alcaudete, was 4.95 km long and almost constantly uphill until the finish line in the castle above the town of Alcaudete. It was won by the Belgian Maxim Van Gils of the Lotto Destiny team in 8 min 17.43 seconds. 9 seconds ahead second place. 

Stage 4 was converted to be a circuit in Lucena, the original stage 4 finish location, of 100km finishing at the top of the Alto de Nuestra Señora de Araceli. This is where Alejandro Valverde won in 2012, Javier Pascual Llorente in 2003 and Marcelino Garcia in 2998. 
Stage 5 on Sunday was hoped to go ahead as planned.

However it was not to be, Stages 4 and five were also cancelled.

So on the race podium in La Linea was  The Belgian Maxim Van Gils (LTD) is the new winner of the Ruta del Sol Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía after spending a time of 8 minutes and 17 seconds in the uphill time trial of 5 kilometres that was held in the town of Alcaudete in Jaén and in which he beat the Italian of Bahrain Victorius, Antonio Tiberi (TBV) and the Spanish Juan Ayuso (UAD), who won by 10" to complete the podium of honour of the race. 

As for the rest of the podium, Antonio Tiberi was crowned with the mountains prize and Jefferson Cepeda, from Caja Rural, won the flying goal prize. The 'Andalusian lynx', Luis Ángel Maté (EUS), was the best Andalusian cyclist in the year of his retirement and Juan Ayuso (UAD) the best Spaniard. The best team of the Ruta del Sol Vuelta a Andalucía this year was UAE Team Emirates.

The top 10 of the day were followed by the three on the podium, Jefferson Cepeda (CJR), Tim Wellens (UAD), Sylvain Moniquet (UAD), Santiago Buitrago (TBV), Alex Baudin (DAT), Marc Soler (UAD) and Gonzalo Serrano (MOV).

The planned format of the race was in the traditional 5 stages totaling 850 kilometres with fourteen mountain passes; three first category, one second category and ten third category. The Vuelta a Andalucia is the first major test of the season for riders.

There were 15 teams taking part in 2024, seven of which will be World Tour teams; UAE Team, Bahrain-Victorious, Movistar, Jayco AlUla, Astana, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Decathlon AG2R. The race's reigning champion, Slovenian Tadej Pogačar of team UAE Emirates who won last year's Vuelta a Andalucia.

For the record the original course was:

Stage 1 - 162 km on 14th February from Almuñécar (Costa Tropical, Granada) to Cádiar (Granada),
Stage 2 - 192 km on 15th February from Vélez Málaga to Alcaudete (Jaen),
Stage 3 - 161 km on 16th February from Arjona (Jaén) to Pozoblanco (Córdoba),
Stage 4 - 167 km on 17th February from Córdoba to Lucena (Córdoba),
Stage 5 - 168 km on 18th February Benahavís (Málaga) – Puerto del Madroña - by pass Ronda - Benaojan - Cortes de la Frontera - Gaucin - San Pablo - Los Angeles - San Roque - La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz).

 

2024 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women

The third edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía Elite Women 2024 was held from 29 May to 1 June 2024 and consisted of four stages. These were Castillar de la Frontera to Alcala del Valle (115km), Arjona to Otura (145km), Torre del Mar to Velez-Malaga (78km), Alhaurin de la torre to Pizarra (100km)

2023 Race - 15 to 19 February - 69 Edition

The 69th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía cycling competition was held between February 15 and 19, 2023 starting in Puente de Génave and finishing in Alhaurín de la Torre, over a total distance of 845 kilometers. The race was part of the UCI ProSeries 2023, second division world cycling calendar, within the UCI 2. Pro category.

The race was won by the Slovenian Tadej Pogačar of team UAE Emirates. Second was Mikel Landa (Spain) and third Santiago Buitrago (Colombia) both from Bahrain Victorious team. The final stage between Otura (Granada) and Alhaurín de la Torre (Málaga) was won by Omar Fraile (Spain) (IDG team).

2023 Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women - 31 May to 4 June - 2nd edition

Katrine Aalerud (Movistar Team) won the second edition of the women's Vuelta a Andalucí by 46 seconds ahead of Tamara Dronova-Banabolina (Israel-Premier Tech Roland) on third and final day to take the winners yellow jersey. The final stage (Estepona-Castellar de la Frontera) stage went to Mie Bjorndal (Norway National Team), who won the sprint to the finish ahead Aalerud.

2023 Stages:
Day 1: Wednesday 31st May. Alcalá la Real - La Zubia, 117 kms.
Day 2: Thursday 1st June.  Salobreña - Cómpeta, 95 kms.
Day 3: Friday 2nd June. Nerja - Álora, 134 kms.
Day 4: Saturday 3rd June. Pizarra - Mijas, 112 kms.
Day 5: Sunday 4th June Estepona - Castellar de la Frontera (Jaén), 95 kms.

2022 Race - 16 and 19 February - 68 Edition

The sixty-eighth edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucia (also known as the Ruta del Sol) took place between Febraury 16th and 20th, 2022. Starting in Ubrique, the race covered 837 kilometres in five stages. The route crossess the provinces of Cádiz, Córdoba, Malaga, Jaén, Córdoba and Granada, before circling back and finishing in Jaén. 22 teams took part in the race forming a peloton of 141 riders, of which 108 finished.

The wace was won by Wout Poels (Netherlands) of Bahrain Victorious. Second was Cristián Rodríguez (Spain) of TotalEnergies, third was Miguel Ángel López (Colombia) of Astana Qazaqstan.

2022 Stages:
Day 1: Wednesday February 16. Ubrique (Cádiz) - Iznájar (Córdoba), 201 kms.
Day 2: Thursday February 17th. Archidona (Malaga) - Alcalá la Real (Jaén), 151 kms.
Day 3: Friday February 18. Lucena (Córdoba) - Otura (Granada), 153 kms.
Day 4: Saturday February 19. Cúllar Vega (Granada) - Baza (Granada), 166 kms.
Day 5: Sunday February 20. Huesa (Jaén) - Chiclana de Segura (Jaén), 168 kms.

2022 Launch of Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women

2022 saw the launch of a UCI 2.1-level women's race, Ruta del Sol Vuelta Andalucía Elite Women, held from April 29 to May 1 in 2022. The race route was through the provinces of Malaga, Cadiz and Granada, with a total distance of 350 kilometres in three day stages.

2021 Race - 18 and 22 May - 67 edition

The sixty-seventh edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía was be held between May 18 and 22, and consisted of 807 kilometers in five stages with 17 mountain passes.

The tour will began on Tuesday, May 18, in Cala de Mijas, crossing the province of Malaga and Cadiz until reaching the finish line in Zahara de la Sierra after 152 kilometers and two mountain passes.

The second stage on Wednesday May 19 started from Iznájar (Córdoba) and finished in Alcalá la Real (Jaén) after a long 183 kilometers, with five mountain passes.

The third stage on Thursday 20 May it was the ‘Queen stage’in the province of Jaén, it began in Beas de Segura and finish in Villarodrigo after 175 kilometers and will have six mountain passes.

The fourth stage, on Friday 21st May began in Baza (Granada) to finish in the town of Cúllar Vega (Granada) after 183 kilometers and two mountain passes.

The final stage on Saturday the 22nd crossed the province of Almería from Vera to Pulpí, after a 114 kilometers including two mountain passes.

A first victory in the Vuelta a Andalucía for the Colombian Miguel Ángel López, with a total time of 21 hours 6 minutes and 55 seconds. Second place was for the Dutchman of Jumbo Visma, Antwan Tolhoek, 20 seconds behind the leader. The third place for the Spanish Julen Amezqueta 1:10 behind the winner. On the podium, the young man from Granada, Carlos Rodríguez, from INEOS, was the leading Andalucian. The winner of the mountain went to Luis Ángel Maté from Marbella.

2020 Race - 19 and 23 February - 66 edition

The 2020 Vuelta a Andalucía took place between 19 and 23 February 2020. It was the 66th edition and was rated as a 2.Pro event as part of the 2020 UCI Europe Tour and the 2020 UCI ProSeries.

Stages were:
19 February 2020 – Alhaurín de la Torre to Grazalema, 173.8 km
20 February 2020 – Sevilla to Iznájar, 198.1 km
21 February 2020 – Jaen to Úbeda, 176.9 km
22 February 2020 – Villanueva Mesía to Granada, 125 km
23 February 2020 – Mijas to Mijas, 13 km

Winner of the general classifications was Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark of the Astana team in 17h 47' 58".

2019 Race - 20 and 24 February - 65 edition

Stages were:
20 February Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Alcalá de los Gazules 170.5 km Medium mountain Stage winner Tim Wellens (BEL)
21 February Seville to Torredonjimeno 216.5 km Hilly stage winner Matteo Trentin (ITA)
22 February Mancha Real to La Guardia de Jaén 16.3 km Individual time trial winner Tim Wellens (BEL)
23 February Armilla to Granada 119.9 km Mountain stage winner Simon Yates (GBR)
24 February Villa de Otura to Alhaurín de la Torre 163.9 km winner Medium mountain stage Matteo Trentin (ITA)

Winner of the general classifications was Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark of the Astana team in 17h 42' 00".

2018 Race - 14 and 18 February - 64 edition

The 2018 Vuelta a Andalucía was the 64th edition of the cycle race and was held on 14 February to 18 February 2018. The race started in Mijas and finished in Barbate. The race was won by Tim Wellens(GER) of the Lotto-Soudal team in 17hrs 41' 50".

Stages were
14 February Mijas to Granada half mountain (197,6 km)
15 February Villa de Otura to La Guardia de Jaén mountain (140 km)
16 February Mancha Real - Herrera plain (165,1 km)
17 February Sevilla - Alcalá de los Gazules half mountain (191,2 km)
18 February Alcalá de los Gazules to Barbate half mountain (100 km)

RACE REPORTS

Vuelta a Andalucia 2017
Vuelta a Andalucia 2016
Vuelta a Andalucia 2015
Vuelta a Andalucia 2014
Vuelta a Andalucia 2013 and earlier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information on the Vuelta a Andalucia website.