ANALYSIS: How does the start to the 2025 Vuelta a Espana compare to next year’s Tour de France?

The route for the first three stages of 2025 Vuelta a Espana has been announced today, and the race will open with three stages in Italy's Piedmont region, which is only the sixth time the race begins outside Spain. This gives a good chance to compare the race to the beginning of the 2025 Tour de France, to understand what riders will have a good chance to wear the yellow or red jersey early on.

The Tour de France starts its 2025 edition in Lille, northern France, and so the race starts on French soil for the first time in several years. Let’s take a look at the profiles for each tour to see which offers a more challenging start.

The Vuelta’s first stage runs 183 kilometres from Turin to Reggia di Venaria. The route features a Category 3 climb at the 60-kilometer mark, but the predominantly flat terrain ensures a day suited to sprinters who will want to wear the red jersey. Similarly, the Tour’s first stage, a 185-kilometer loop starting and finishing in Lille, is designed for sprinters. This of course gives the fastest sprinters in the world the chance to wear the yellow jersey, something that only a select group of sprinters (including Mark Cavendish) have managed. Both opening stages offer minimal elevation and should end with a bunch sprint, unless of course a breakaway snatches the headlines.

Stage two of the Vuelta, however, takes the difficulty level up a notcjh. The 157-kilometer route from Alba introduces the Category 2 Puerto Limonte climb, a 10-kilometer ascent located within the final 20 kilometres. This climb will test climbers and GC contenders early on, and will certainly put many sprinters out the back of the peloton. In comparison, the Tour’s second stage, a 212-kilometer ride from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer, is a hilly but relatively manageable stage of the fast men. While the undulating terrain favours breakaways or puncheurs, it lacks the sustained challenge of the Puerto Limonte climb, giving the Vuelta’s second stage an edge in difficulty.

The Vuelta’s third stage, a 139-kilometer journey from San Maurizio to Ceres, once again has a focus on climbing with another Category 2 ascent. This stage, though shorter, is expected to create the first significant gaps in the general classification. Meanwhile, the Tour’s third stage, covering 178 kilometers from Valenciennes to Dunkirk, is predominantly flat and offers another clear opportunity for sprinters. However, the northern French coastline’s notorious winds could still cause problems in the pack.

Stage by stage, the Vuelta definitely presents a tougher opening, with its second and third stages providing climbing challenges that will attract GC contenders and climbers. In contrast, the sprinters will be licking their lips at the beginning of next year’s Tour de France, and 2 of the 3 stages are mostly flat. The hardest stage overall is arguably the Vuelta’s second stage, where the Puerto Limonte climb could make an early impact on the general classification.

Both Grand Tours should get off to thrilling starts, but for very different reasons. Will we see Jasper Philipsen or Biniam Girmay take the yellow jersey early on in France? And will we see Primoz Roglic and Ben O’Connor pick up where they left off in Spain and battle for red early on in Spain? Who knows, maybe even Tadej Pogacar will ruin the sprinters party and decide to take both races over from the get go.