From the 19th to the 23rd of February we have one of the most important Spanish stage-races of the season. This will be the Vuelta a Andalucia, taking place in a warm part of the country, always with a mix of explosive stages that traditionally attract the climbers and classics riders a lot. We take a look at it's profiles.
The race consists of five days of racing, three of them for the climbers and puncheurs whilst two are more guided towards the sprinters - although neither has a proper flat finale. The three hilly days are very mixed, with no real summit finish, which will make for some aggressive racing, the GC can be decided on any day.
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Stage 1: Torrox-Costa - Cueva de Nerja, 164 kilometers
The first stage of the race is a very threatening one. With no race leader, the uphill start will be hard to control and for a day without clear contenders, chaos can quickly settle. There are climbs of different distances and gradientns, but the final half presents three that are difficult. 6.7Km at 7.2% with 62Km to go; 1.9Km at 8.1% with 41Km to go; and 3.3Km at 7.1% with 20Km to go.
Between them all, barely a meter of flat road, it's always uphill or downhill and it's simply very hard to have an organized chase. Even if anything comes together, we will still have an uphill sprint in Cueva de Nerja at 6%.
Stage 2: Alcaudete - Torrelcampo (Ermita Santa Ana), 133.4 kilometers
Stage 2 is an explosive day and another one that is difficult to control. The first two thirds of the stage feature a few climbs that can create some meaningful differences. The ascent to Puerto Vieja will be ridden twice and at it's hardest, it features 4.3 kilometers at 9.4% - which can be used for serious attacks.
However the final one ends with 43 kilometers to go, still with an hour of racing left. Most of it will be flat, but the finale at the Ermita Santa Ana will also be uphill, the final kilometer will average 9% and in this short road there is still the chance to make a difference.
Stage 3: Arjona - Pozoblanco, 163 kilometers
A day that is mostly flat, the profile looks a bit misleading, the ascent early in the day is not very hard and won't be any problem to the sprinters. It's not a pan-flat finale but it won't cause issues to those who struggle with climbing. However, the 3% average in the final kilometer will certainly make it harder, and it won't be all about the final sprint but instead a longer effort.
Stage 4: Córdoba - Alhaurin de la Torre, 195.2 kilometers
Another day that is rather suited to the sprinters, with a few small climbs throughout the day that can be used for some attacks or for a breakaway to make it hard for the peloton... But everything points towards a bunch sprint in Alhaurin de la Torre (where again, it will be slightly uphill).
Stage 5: Benahavis - La Línea de la Concepción, 168.2 kilometers
The first half of the final stage is rather brutal, with a very long ascent right at the start of the day and then three other climbs where attacks can happen. A day with a flat finale in La Línea de la Concepción but the overall classification will be the main topic of the day with the start that the riders will have at hand.
🚴♂️🌟 La Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucía presenta en diputación de Málaga las etapas que recorrerán la provincia de Málaga pic.twitter.com/6vV5uklLa2
— Vuelta a Andalucía (@VCANDALUCIA) January 29, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling forRafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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