Turin start for 2025 Vuelta a Espana
Italy's Piedmont region will host the first three stages of next year's Vuelta a Espana to mark the race's 90th edition, organisers announced Monday.
"Italy is a country that has undoubtedly marked the history of the Vuelta," organisers said of the race in which Italian riders have won 187 stages and the overall title six times.
"Surrounded by mountains, history and natural beauty, (Italy) extends the list of international locations visited by the Spanish race and further strengthens the links between the great countries of European cycling," organisers added.
The first stage starts at Turin's Royal Palace on August 23 with the next two getting underway in Alba and San Maurizio Canavese respectively in north-western Italy.
The remainder of the three-week route will be unveiled on December 19.
Since 1935, the Vuelta a Espana has visited several countries with strong cycling traditions such as France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The 2025 edition will be the sixth foreign start after Lisbon (1997), Assen (2009), Nimes (2017), Utrecht (2022) and Lisbon-Oeiras-Cascais (2024).
Monaco will host the 2026 start.
Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic won the Vuelta a Espana for a record-equalling fourth time in September.
A.Gonzalez--LGdM