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.

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

Vuelta a España 2018: Route map, height profiles, and more

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Videos final 5 K

Malaga and Madrid at Google Maps

Stage 4: details Puerto de Alfacar

stage 9: details Alto de la Covatilla

stage 13: details La Camperona

stage 15: details Lagos de Covadonga

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ITT specialists for first red jersey

La Vuelta begins with an individual time trial in Málaga. The 8 kilometres course is fast, yet the riders face a punchy 1 kilometres climb at 5.5%. Cyclingstage.com brings you the favourites to ride into the first red leader's jersey in Spain.

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Uphill sprint, or opportunity for attackers

The Vuelta a España's 2nd stage is played out on a hilly terrain. The route is far from flat, but far from steep either. The closing climb is 5.1 kilometres at 3.3%.

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For powerful speedsters

The 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España features quite some vertical metres - as per usual in Spain. But the ascents are doable, so odds are the race will come down to a bunch sprint.

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GC clash on first long climbs

The Vuelta a España's 4th stage offers a first and delicate taste of what's in store. The riders face a number of long uphills, while the last one climbs to the line. The ascents are not insanely steep though and tailor made for both young and old heroes to shine...

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Sprinters after long downhill

The 5th stage of the Vuelta a España moves through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, which is Europe's highest mountain range after the Alps, but this doesn't shine through in the route. The route is far from flat, but chances are the fast men will battle it out in arrival place Roquetas de Mar.

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