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The 2009 Vuelta a Espana will start in the Dutch city of Assen

By Agence France Pressse
Published: Dec. 17, 2008
A stage of the 2008 Vuelta a Espana
A stage of the 2008 Vuelta a Espana
Photo: Graham Watson

The 2009 Tour of Spain will begin in the Netherlands, in the first overseas launch of the race in more than 12 years, organizers announced Wednesday.

2009 Vuelta a Espana Stages

Saturday, Aug 29 - stage 1: 4.5km around Assen (Netherlands), individual
time trial
Sunday, Aug 30 - stage 2: 202km from Assen to Emmen (Netherlands)
Monday, Aug 31 - stage 3: 185km from Zutphen (Netherlands) to Venlo
(Netherlands)
Tuesday, Sept 1 - stage 4: 224km Venlo to Liege (Belgium)
Wednesday Sept 2 - rest day
Thursday, Sept 3 - stage 5: 174km Tarragona (Spain) to Vinaroz
Friday, Sept 4 - stage 6: 186km Xativa to Xativa
Saturday, Sept 5 - stage 7: 30km around Valencia, individual time-trial
Sunday, Sept 6 - stage 8: 206km Alzira to col d'Aitana
Monday, Sept 7 - stage 9: 186km Alcoy to Xorret del Cati
Tuesday, Sept 8 - stage 10: 162km Alicante to Murcia
Wednesday, Sept 9 - stage 11: 174km Murcia to Caravaca de la Cruz
Thursday, Sept 10 - rest day
Friday, Sept 11 - stage 12: 174km Almeria to col de Velefique
Saturday, Sept 12 - stage 13: 175km Berja to Sierra Nevada
Sunday, Sept 13 - stage 14: 157km Grenada to La Pandera
Monday, Sept 14 - stage 15: 168km Jaen to Cordoba
Tuesday, Sept 15 - stage 16: 170km Cordoba to Puertollano
Wednesday, Sept 16 - stage 17: 175km Ciudad Real to Talavera de la Reina
Thursday, Sept 17 - stage 18: 187km Talavera de la Reina to Avila
Friday, Sept 18 - stage 19: 174km Avila to La Granja
Saturday, Sept 19 - stage 20: 26km around Toledo, individual time-trial
Sunday, Sept 20 - stage 21: 110km Rivas-Vacaimadrid to Madrid
Total distance: 3,266.50 km

The Dutch city of Assen will be the starting point of the 64th Vuelta on August 29, 2009, and the next two stages will also take place in the Netherlands.

The fourth stage will go through the Netherlands before concluding in the Belgian city of Liege.

After a rest day, the race will pick up in the northeastern Spanish city of Tarragona.

The 2009 Vuelta a Espana will start in the Dutch city of Assen.
The 2009 Vuelta a Espana will start in the Dutch city of Assen.
Photo: Agence France Presse

The route will be particularly mountainous this year, especially in the second week.

"Almost all the mountain stages are concentrated in the second week, when the overall leaders will come to the fore," Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde said at the presentation. "It's a Tour for climbers."

Also present were his compatriots Alberto Contador, Carlos Sastre and Samuel Sanchez.

But of these, only Sanchez, a gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, was able to confirm "100 percent" that he will take part.

The cyclists appeared happy with the route, despite some concern over the long trip from Liege to Tarragona.

The Tour concludes in Madrid on September 20.

"All the ingredients are there to enjoy great cycling," said the Vuelta's new director Javier Guillen, who succeeded Victor Cordero, who had been in the job since 1995.

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