PREVIEW | La Vuelta Femenina 2023

Preview. Having recently changed names, the newly-termed La Vuelta Femenina comes as the first Grand Tour of the season for the women's peloton, with seven stages across Spain that will see a lot of spectacle. The race takes place between the 1st and 7th of May.

Stage 1 is a team time trial with start and finish in Torrevieja that will test the technique of the cyclists and the teamwork of the different squads participating in La Vuelta Femenina 2023. Stage 2 will be an opportunity for the sprinters, as the riders take on a flat 105-kilometer stage between Orihuela and Pilar de la Horadada, whilst the third day of racing will be the longest of the race and is also expected to take on a mass sprint.

Stage 4 has a third category ascent of the Atlto de Hurche close to the finale with the summit 12 km from the finish that could spice things up towards Guadalajara. Stage 5 of the Vuelta Femenina is where the general classification will be played more seriously. The Puerto de Navafría, first category, is located 70 km from the finish and can completely break the race. From there to the finish all flat until the final climb to the Mirador de Peñas Llanas, a second category summit finish where differences will be created.

Stage 6 of the race is a hilly day in which a lot can happen. Possible sprint, late attack and all-out GC battle are all possible in this explosive day from Castro-Urdiales to Laredo, which features two second category ascents within just 106 kilometers. The final day of racing will be the queen stage of the ninth edition of the Vuelta Femenina with a second category pass in the middle of the route but most importantly the climb to the special category pass of the Lagos de Covadonga that will decide the overall classification.

Estimated start and finish times for La Vuelta Femenina stages:

Stage 1: 12:30 - 14:00CET

Stage 2: 14:20 - 17:00CET

Stage 3: 13:00 - 17:00CET

Stage 4: 13:30 - 17:00CET

Stage 5: 11:55 - 15:30CET

Stage 6: 12:30 - 15:30CET

Stage 7: 12:30 - 15:30CET

Prediction La Vuelta Femenina 2023 overall classification:

*** Demi Vollering
** Annemiek van Vleuten, Liane Lippert, Gaia Realini
* Amanda Spratt, Elise Chabbey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Silvia Persico, Mavi García

Pick: Demi Vollering