Vuelta a España 2022
DATES: August 19 - September 11
STAGES: 21
REST DAYS: 3
START: Utrecht
FINISH: Madrid
Vuelta a España race results
Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) ended a long wait for another grand tour stage victory, clocking up success on the first sprint stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday.
The Irishman had a perfect leadout from his Bora-Hansgrohe team and finished half a length clear of Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segefredo) and Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in Utrecht.
Primož Roglič and Jumbo-Visma set the tone on their triple title defense with a dominant team time trial victory in the opening stage of the 2022 Vuelta a España.
The Dutch team Jumbo-Visma blitzed the 23.3km test through Utrecht, the Netherlands, to place Robert Gesink into the red leader's jersey and deliver Primož Roglič the perfect start after his layoff with Tour de France injuries.
Vuelta a España contenders
The Vuelta a España is the final grand tour of the season and possibly the most unpredictable of the three-week races.
With a tough season in the legs and a mixed bag of general classification contenders with hugely varied buildups to the event, anything can happen. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Merida), João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), and Enric Mas (Movistar) are all expected to be on the start line targeting the GC.
Primož Roglič will be racing despite the fact that he suffered a big crash at the Tour de France in July. Meanwhile, Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) has talked down his chances of a GC result, but he’ll be one to watch.
The Vuelta is rarely a race for the sprinters but there will be some in attendance with Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates), Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco), and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) heading to Spain.
Vuelta a España route
Utrecht in the Netherlands plays host to the opening three stages, providing team time trial and some rare flat days for the peloton. Once the race returns to Spain, the profiles start getting a little lumpier with the first summit finish to Ascensión al Pico Jano. San Miguel de Aguayo coming on stage 6. Week one then closes with a summit finish double header at Colláu Fancuaya and Les Praeres Nava.
The one and only ITT opens up the second week, with a 31.1km ride from Elche to Alicante. There will be a few sprint chances as the race progresses, but they’re punctuated by some tough mountain days. It’s the Vuelta and we wouldn’t expect anything less. In fact, there are eight big summit finishes throughout the race, something that will push the riders to their limits.
Vuelta a España key features
- Vuelta a España essential race preview
- Vuelta a España: Analyzing the Ineos Grenadiers team
- Vuelta a España: 5 key stages
- Vuelta a España: Top 10 riders to watch
- Analyzing Bora-Hansgrohe’s Vuelta a España lineup
Vuelta a España teams

Vuelta a España recent winners
2021: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2020: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2019: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2018: Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)
2017: Chris Froome (Team Sky)
2016: Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team)
2015: Fabio Aru (Astana)
2014: Alberto Contador (Tinkoff–Saxo)
2013: Chris Horner (RadioShack–Nissan)
2012: Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank)