Overview

• The race opens today with a 186 km stage from Turin’s Venaria Reale to Novara, a largely flat route expected to favor sprinters after a single third‑category climb.
• La Vuelta logs a record 722.7 km outside Spain across Italy, France and Andorra before finishing in Madrid, reflecting organizers’ push for international starts and host-region deals.
• The mountainous course features 11 summit finishes including L’Angliru and the Bola del Mundo, a team time trial on day five in Figueres, and a late individual time trial near the end of the race.
• Two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard accepts the favorite tag in the absence of Tadej Pogačar and four-time Vuelta champion Primož Roglič, saying his form and preparation point to a realistic bid for red.
• UAE Team Emirates fields dual leaders Almeida and Ayuso, with Ayuso acknowledging uncertain condition after a Giro crash and Almeida returning strong before a rib injury at the Tour, while Mikel Landa targets stage wins and shrugs off the general classification after reporting lost luggage en route to Turin.