2007 Vuelta route announced
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Organizers unveiled the 2007 Vuelta a España route on Wednesday, with three mountaintop finishes among the highlights, including the return of the punishing Lagos de Covadonga ascent.
The three-week race gets under way September 1 in the port city of Vigo, in the northwest province of Galicia. The finale to the 21-stage race will be the traditional finish in Madrid on September 23.
But it's the first week of the 3,241km race, and the return of the Lagos de Covadonga as part of the arduous 182km fourth stage, that has next year's challengers excited.
''It will be great for the fans to see the return of the legendary climb to the Lagos,'' said 2006 runner-up Alejandro Valverde. ''The mountain stages start very early, but with the riders still being fresh I think things won't be decided until the last week.''
The first of two individual time trials begins in Zaragoza on September 7 with a lengthy 49km race against the clock. Riders then face two consecutive mountain finishes ending at the ski stations at Cerler and Ordino-Arcalis.
Teams will then transfer to the Mediterranean town of Opresa, where they will begin a loop through the south that includes the cities of Granada and Jerez before the final mountain climb at the Alto de Abantos.
The second time trial, a 25km stage in Villalba, precedes the final 100km sprint to the finish line in Madrid.
Race director Victor Cordero said next year's Vuelta would be an important one in the wake of the doping scandals that have cast a dark shadow over cycling, especially in Spain.
''Cycling needs to modernize itself and to regain its credibility,'' Cordero said. ''We need to ensure we combine the epic with the ethic.''
Organizers also announced that the 2008 Vuelta would begin in Granada.
The 2007 Vuelta a España (3241km)
Stage 1, September 1 — Vigo-Vigo, 145km
Stage 2, September 2 — Sun Allariz-Santiago de Compostela, 150km
Stage 3, September 3 — Viveiro-Luarca, 155km
Stage 4, September 4 — Langreo-Lagos de Covadonga, 182km
Stage 5, September 5 — Cangas de Onís-Reinosa, 155km
Stage 6, September 6 — Thu Reinosa-Logroño, 195km
Stage 7, September 7 —Calahorra-Zaragoza, 140km
Stage 8, September 8 — D. O. Cariñena-Zaragoza (individual time trial), 49km
Stage 9, September 9 —Huesca-Estación de esquí Cerler (Grupo Aramón), 174km
Stage 10, September 10 — Mon Benasque-Estación de esquí de Ordino Arcalís, 220km
September 11 — Rest day
Stage 11, September 12 — Castellón-Algemesi, 190km
Stage 12, September 13 — Algemesí-Hellín, 167km
Stage 13, September 14 — Hellin-Torre-Pacheco , 150km
Stage 14, September 15 — Puerto Lumbreras-Villacarrillo (Parque Natural Sierra de Cazorla), 205km
Stage 15, September 16 — Villacarrillo-Granada, 205km
September 17 — Rest day
Stage 16, September 18 — Jaen- Puertollano, 165km
Stage 17, September 19 — Ciudad Real-Talavera de la Reina, 180km
Stage 18, September 20 — Talavera de la Reina-Avila, 154km
Stage 19, September 21 — Avila-Alto de Abantos, 135km
Stage 20, September 22 — Villalba-Villalba (individual time trial), 25km
Stage 21, September 23 — Sun Rivas Vaciamadrid-Madrid, 100km
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