Primoz Roglic was the big winner on the 2021 Vuelta a España. The Slovene claimed the overall classification, plus four stages. Fabio Jakobsen and Magnus Cort both took three wins, while Michael Storer and Jasper Philipsen took two.
Read about the pre-race GC favourites 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 2021 favourites – per stage
| date | favourites | km | type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14-8 | Roglic for first red jersey | 7.1 | ITT |
| 2 | 15-8 | Fast finishers showdown | 166.7 | flat |
| 3 | 16-8 | First mountain top finish | 202.8 | mountains |
| 4 | 17-8 | For power sprinters | 163.9 | flat |
| 5 | 18-8 | Sprint in Albacate | 184.4 | flat |
| 6 | 19-8 | Finale for punchers | 158.3 | hills |
| 7 | 20-8 | Hilly classic with trying finish | 152.0 | hills |
| 8 | 21-8 | Sprint on the Mediterranean coast | 173.7 | flat |
| 9 | 22-8 | GC at the Velefique | 188.0 | mountains |
| 23-8 | rest day | |||
| 10 | 24-8 | Attackers in downhill finale | 189.0 | hills |
| 11 | 25-8 | Finishing ramp at 30% | 133.6 | hills |
| 12 | 26-8 | Attackers with fast descent | 175.0 | hills |
| 13 | 27-8 | Sprint in Extremadura | 203.7 | flat |
| 14 | 28-8 | Fight for the red jersey | 165.7 | mountains |
| 15 | 29-8 | For breakaway climbers | 197.5 | mountains |
| 30-8 | rest day | |||
| 16 | 31-8 | Sprint in Cantabria | 180.0 | flat |
| 17 | 1-9 | Battle of Covadonga | 185.8 | mountains |
| 18 | 2-9 | Last monster climbs | 162.6 | mountains |
| 19 | 3-9 | Breakaway day | 191.2 | hills |
| 20 | 4-9 | Last chance for climbers | 202.2 | hills |
| 21 | 5-9 | Roglic’ final act | 33.8 | ITT |
