Preview and profiles Vuelta a Andalucia: Stacked list of climbers head to Spain for a week of racing in the hills

Tomorrow begins the Vuelta a Andalucia, Ruta del Sol as many know it. The 5-day stage race in southern Spain is one of the early-season races that are chosen the most due to it's proximity with the area most teams choose to have training camps on, and this year is no exception.

The race starts off with a hilltop finish in Iznáhar in the longest day topping just over 200 kilometers where bonifications and splits can be crucial to the overall result. Stage two takes the riders to Alcalá La Real, a hilly day full of climbs but where things should be decided in the final ramp uo to the finish line in very rough pavement. If there's an opportunity for the sprinters here it will be on stage three en route to Otura, a day very well suited to a breakaway but with a somewhat flat finish.

On the fourth day the only mountain of the race is placed at the start of the stage, the Alto del Purche, and it will kick off what is sure to be an explosive days of racing. And in the final leg of the race the riders will find their last summit finish of the race in Chiclana de Segura, another hilltop town finish that should be quite spectacular.

The sprinters will have little opportunities however you do see the likes of Biniam Ghirmay and Niccolò Bonifazio present in the race looking for an opportunist stage win, and some puncheurs like Benoît Cosnefroy, Mikkel Honoré, Gonzalo Serrano, Simon Clarke and Alessandro Covi come with the same in mind but perhaps for different days. The most captivating plot should be with the GC contenders as they seek a big win.

The likes of Alexey Lutsenko and Miguel Ángel López for Astana, Jack Haig, Mikel Landa, Damiano Caruso and Wout Poels for Bahrain, Emanuel Buchmann and Wilco Kelderman for BORA are examples of teams where depth can be put to good use. Other climbers like SImon Yates, Carlos Rodriguez, Ben O'Connor and Ivan Sosa should also be near the head of the race in the climbs.

You will be able to keep up with the race here on CyclingUpToDate as we bring you race reports and interviews on a daily basis.