Vuelta 2018: Favourites

Simon Yates won the Vuelta a España in the 73rd edition of the race. The podium was rounded out by Enric Mas and Miguel Ángel López, while Thomas De Gendt took the polka dot jersey and Alejandro Valverde the green jersey. Pre-race favourites Nairo Quintana, Richie Porte and Vincenzo Nibali failed to live up to the expectation for different reasons. Both Porte and Nibali raced the Vuelta in the aftermath of a crash at the Tour de France. (Slideshow route/profile)

Read about the overall contenders or click on the links in the table below for the favourites to win individual stages. Obviously, all these articles were written before the start of the race(s).

Vuelta a España 2018: Favourites

Nr	Date	Favourites	Type
1	Sa 25-8	ITT specialist for first red jersey	ITT
2	Su 26-8	Uphill sprint, or opportunity for attackers	finish uphill
3	Mo 27-8	For powerful speedsters	hills flat finish
4	Tu 28-8	GC clash on first long climbs	mountain finish
5	We 29-8	Sprinters after long downhill	hills, flat finish
6	Th 30-8	Fast finishers showdown in San Javier	vlak
7	Fr 31-8	Finale for strong fast men	hills
8	Sa 1-9	World Champion contra breakaway boys	flat
9	Su 2-9	Climbers in La Covatilla	mountain finish
	Mo 3-9	Rest day
10	Tu 4-9	Fast finishers showdown	flat
11	We 5-9	Hilly race with trying finale	hills
12	Th 6-9	For late attackers	flat
13	Fr 7-9	Demolition workers on iconic monster mountain	mountain finish
14	Sa 8-9	Second installment of high altitude triptych	mountain finish
15	Su 9-9	Iconic winner at Lagos de Covadonga	mountain finish
	Mo 10-9	Rest day
16	Tu 11-9	Perfect course for Rohan Dennis	ITT
17	We 12-9	Horror arrival at Balcón de Bizkaia	mountain finish
18	Th 13-9	Back to the fast men	flat
19	Fr 14-9	Clash on long final climb	mountain finish
20	Sa 15-9	Pyrenees offer climbers last chance	mountains
21	Su 16-9	Madrilenian sprint party	flat