Vuelta 2025 Route stage 18: Valladolid

Vuelta 2025 Route stage 18: Valladolid - Valladolid

Thursday, 11 September - The 18th stage of La Vuelta is an ITT starting and finishing in Valladolid. The 26-kilometres course features a 700 metres climb at 5.6% just 6 kilometres in, and the rest of the route is flat. So, a perfect course for specialists who can push a big gear.

The course is a copy of the individual time trial from La Vuelta two years ago. Back then, Filippo Ganna was 16 seconds faster than Remco Evenepoel. The Italian powerhouse blasted from start to finish in 27 minutes and 39 seconds.

The start podium is situated at the foot of the Puente Mayor, which is bridging the Pisuerga River, while the route winds its way through several neighbourhoods and suburbs of Valladolid. Early on, the riders head to El Estadio José Zorrilla, home base of La Liga football club Real Valladolid, before continuing through the Parquesol suburb. After crossing the Pisuerga again, they turn right and storm towards the Pinar de Antequera suburb.

While the first part of the route features a number of corners, the section towards Pinar de Antequera is fairly straightforward. Flat, hardly any corners, so tailor-made for pure bred ITT specialists. The same applies to the return leg towards Vallodolid.

The finish is located on the Passeo Zorrilla, next to the Campo Grande, a large public park in the heart of the city.

Last year, La Vuelta featured two individual time trials. Brandon McNulty triumphed on the opening day, while Stefan Küng claimed victory in the Madrid ITT on the final day.

Valladolid holds a special place in Vuelta history. It was the finish location for the very first stage of the race. On 29 April 1935, the riders raced from Madrid to the capital of Castile and León. That day, Belgian rider Antoon Dignef claimed victory, becoming the first-ever leader of La Vuelta’s general classification.