With the nightly team time trial in the streets of Sevilla, the 2010 Tour of Spain started in an original way tonight. In the collection of cycling race routes on Google Maps/Google Earth I hereby add the Vuelta a España 2010 route.

Below you can find the race route on Google Maps, the stage profile and the time- and route schedule for each of the stages. Furthermore, at the end of this article you can download a KML file which allows you to see the whole Vuelta route in Google Earth and thus for example to do a virtual fly-over of the race routes of this Spanish race.

The stages of the 2010 Vuelta a España

The 65th edition of the Tour of Spain is built up of the following stages for its 75th anniversary:

#	type	date	start	finish	distance
1	team time trial	Sa. 28 August 2010	Sevilla	Sevilla	13 km
2	plain	Su. 29 August 2010	Alcalá de Guadaíra	Marbella	173.7 km
3	mountain stage	Mo. 30 August 2010	Marbella	Málaga	157.3 km
4	plain	Tu. 31 August 2010	Málaga	Valdepeñas de Jaén	183.8 km
5	plain	We. 1 September 2010	Guadix	Lorca	198.8 km
6	plain	Th. 2 September 2010	Caravace de la Cruz	Murcia	151 km
7	plain	Fr. 3 September 2010	Murcia	Orihuela	187.1 km
8	mountain stage	Sa. 4 September 2010	Villena	Xorret de Catí	190 km
9	mountain stage	Su. 5 September 2010	Calpe	Alcoy	187.7 km
10	plain	Tu. 7 September 2010	Tarragona	Vilanova i la Geltrú	175.7 km
11	mountain stage	We. 8 September 2010	Vilanova i la Geltrú	Andorra (Pal)	208.4 km
12	plain	Th. 9 September 2010	Andorra-la-Vella	Lleida	172.5 km
13	plain	Fr. 10 September 2010	Rincón de Soto	Burgos	196 km
14	mountain stage	Sa. 11 September 2010	Burgos	Peña Cabarga	178 km
15	mountain stage	Su. 12 September 2010	Solares	Lagos de Covadonga	187.3 km
16	mountain stage	Mo. 13 September 2010	Gijón	Cotobello	181.4 km
17	individual time trial	We. 15 September 2010	Peñafiel	Peñafiel	46 km
18	plain	Th. 16 September 2010	Valladolid	Salamanca	148.9 km
19	plain	Fr. 17 September 2010	Piedrahita	Toledo	231.2 km
20	mountain stage	Sa. 18 September 2010	San Martín de Valdeiglesias	Bola del Mundo	172.1 km
21	plain	Su. 19 September 2010	San Sebastián de los Reyes	Madrid	85 km

The race route on Google Maps, the stage profiles and the time- and route schedules of the 2010 Tour of Spain stages

01/ Saturday 28 August 2010 : Sevilla > Sevilla - 13 km - team time trial

The Tour of Spain didn't come to Sevilla since 15 years and this time it will come back for a nightly visit with a 16.5 kilometer team time trial to make it a good start of the 75th anniversary of the Vuelta.
Even though it's a completely flat stage this team time trial will definitely not be easy: the first 5 kilometers in the center of Sevilla are very technical and the riders must form a real team to get through it without any trouble. The rest of the stage is composed of long straight lines and during the stage the riders will see the Sevilla arenas and pass over the Triana bridge. The finish line will be below the Torre del Oro (the golden tower).

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

02/ Sunday 29 August 2010 : Alcalá de Guadaíra > Marbella - 173.7 km - plain

After the start from Alcalá de Guadaíra - which the Vuelta visits for the very first time in its 75 year old history - the riders will have to climb two third category mountains in this "plain" stage: the Alto de Pruna (620 m), whose top will be after 75 kilometers, and the Alto de Ronda (1.130 m) at 43 kilometers from the finish.

After the first climb follows a 32 kilometer long descent and a final 11 kilometer long flat part: the perfect occasion for the sprinter teams to prepare a the first mass sprint of this Vuelta at the finish in Marbella (stage city for the 4th time, the last one was in 1996).

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

03/ Monday 30 August 2010 : Marbella > Málaga - 157.3 km - mountain stage

Immediately after the start from Marbella this first mountain stage starts with a third category climb, the Puerto de Ojén (550 m with a 4.8% average slope). About 80 kilometers further is the top of the Puerto del Léon (1st category, 905 m, 4.91% average slope) which will be climbed from Malaga where the peloton passes for the first time after 67 kilometers. After the descent of this mountain there will only be a few kilometers before a new climb of this mountain. After the second descent follows a small plain part, but the riders will finish the stage with a one and a half kilometer climb to the castle of Gibralfaro in Malaga!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

04/ Tuesday 31 August 2010 : Málaga > Valdepeñas de Jaén - 183.8 km - plain

After an easy and flat start of this stage the riders will climb three mountains before the finish in Valdepeñas de Jaen where the Vuelta never stopped before: the Alto Ventas de Zafarraya (2nd category, 910 m), the Alto de Montefrio (3rd category, 1.040 m) and finally the Puerto de Valdepeñas (2nd category, 1.100 m) at about 6 kilometers from the finish.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

05/ Wednesday 1 September 2010 : Guadix > Lorca - 198.8 km - plain

This stage will either be the perfect occasion for a leading group which will go on until the finish or for a mass sprint.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

06/ Thursday 2 September 2010 : Caravace de la Cruz > Murcia - 151 km - plain

This is the second shortest stage and will start in Caravaca de Cruz. It will follow a completely flat route. At about 10 kilometers from the finish the riders will however find a short climb: the Alto de la Cresta del Gallo (2nd category, 370 m). Since it's positioned at only a few kilometers from the finish, it could well be an additional difficulty for the riders who were expecting a mass sprint finish in Murcia.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

07/ Friday 3 September 2010 : Murcia > Orihuela - 187.1 km - plain

This stage will connect Murcia, a city which is used to receive the Vuelta, to Orihuela which will receive the Vuelta for the first time! The first 100 kilometers of this stage will follow a flat route and the top of the first difficulty of this stage, the Alto de Hondon de los Frailes (3rd category, 500 m), will be at 58 kilometers from the finish. The sprinters teams will thus most be probably be able to correctly position their rocket man for a stage victory in Orihuela.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

08/ Saturday 4 September 2010 : Villena > Xorret de Catí - 190 km - mountain stage

This Saturday the riders will have another mountain stage. Even though they'll have to wait until the end of the stage for a first category climb, this stage will be rather difficult and will immediately after the start from Villena (which the Vuelta visits for the first time) start the climb to the top of the Puerto de Onil (3rd category, 1O30 m). After a hilly part, 3 climbs of the 2nd category are waiting for the riders: the Puerto de Tudons (990 m), the Puerto de Torremanzanas (880 m) and the Puerto de Carrasqueta (1025 m). The last climb of this stage is the Alto del Catí (1st category, 1100 m) and it will probably give a spicy end to this stage, as it did the 4 previous times the Vuelta finished here.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

09/ Sunday 5 September 2010 : Calpe > Alcoy - 187.7 km - mountain stage

The second mountain stage of this superb weekend will lead the riders from Calpe, where several riders did their winter training (Johnny Hoogerland of the Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, the whole Katusha team, ...), to Alcoy over a 187 kilometer distance and with no less than 6 climb. After 50 flat kilometers starts the first climb to the top of the Coll de Rates (2nd category, 625 m). It will be followed by the combination of the Alto de Guadalest (2nd category, 680 m), the Alto de Confrides (3rd category, 980 m), the Alto de Tudons (2nd category, 1025 m), the Puerto de Torremanzanas (2nd category, 890 m) and finally the Puerto de Benifallim (3rd category, 1030 m) before the descent towards the finish in Alcoy.

After this great mountain weekend the general ranking of this 65th Vuelta will probably start to show the first differences.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

10/ Tuesday 7 September 2010 : Tarragona > Vilanova i la Geltrú - 175.7 km - plain

After the first well deserved rest day it's time for the 10th stage. After 120 kilometers the riders will pass the finish line for the first time. However, the stage will not stop there since they'll follow the coast line towards the climb of the Alto del Rat Penat (480 m), short but steep. The sprinters who chose this stage will either have to pass this climb with parts up to 20 to 22% or get back on the best climbers in the last 30 kilometers to pass the finish line first when they pass it for the second time!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

11/ Wednesday 8 September 2010 : Vilanova i la Geltrú > Andorra (Pal) - 208.4 km - mountain stage

Just like in the Tour de France 2009 the 75th anniversary of the Vuelta is celebrated in style with the stage to Andorra as the longest stage. The 208 kilometers of this stage are almost always climbing towards the mountain top finish (hors catégorie) in Pal in the Vallnord ski station. Yet another stage where the best climber, who will wear a new jersey in 2010 (because this jersey was red and the leader's jersey which was gold also becomes red in 2010, the best climber's jersey has changed as well ... and has adopted almost the same look with polka dots like in the Tour and in many other cycling races - the dots are blue though), can take some additional points to comfort his position!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

12/ Thursday 9 September 2010 : Andorra-la-Vella > Lleida - 172.5 km - plain

Again like in the Tour de France 2009 the next day's stage of the 65th Vuelta will also start in Andorra la Vella.

Despite the climb of the Coll de Boixol which has its top at kilometer 57 (118 kilometers from the finish), the sprinters' teams will probably prepare a mass sprint at the end of this stage.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

13/ Friday 10 September 2010 : Rincón de Soto > Burgos - 196 km - plain

Between Rincón de Soto and Burgos the riders will have two 3rd category climbs: the Alto de la Pradilla (1210 m) and the Alto de Valmala (1120 m). The top of the first climb will be at kilometer 135, while the second will be attained at about 30 kilometers from the finish. The perfect occasion for a leading group which could stay ahead until the finish.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

14/ Saturday 11 September 2010 : Burgos > Peña Cabarga - 178 km - mountain stage

After two plain stages, this weekend and on the following Monday the riders will again find 3 mountain stages. This Saturday it all starts with a stage with 4 difficulties, one of which being the climb to the mountain top finish in Peña Cabarga where the Vuelta came for the last time in 1979.

After 78 kilometers the riders will be on the top of the Alto de Bocos (780 m, 3rd category) and after its descent they will immediately continue with the climb of the Portillo de Lunada (1350 m, 2nd category), followed by the Alto de Caracol (820 m, 2nd category). When the riders arrive at the top of this third climb they will start their descent to sea level before starting the last climb: a 1st category mountain with an average slope of 10%! The general ranking could well look a bit different after this stage!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

15/ Sunday 12 September 2010 : Solares > Lagos de Covadonga - 187.3 km - mountain stage

The second episode of this mountain weekend starts with about 150 flat kilometers following the coast line. The perfect occasion for one or more riders to create a leading group. However, at the end of the stage they will find a difficult climb towards the Covadonga Lakes.
This hors catégorie climb is regularly part of the Tour of Spain since 1983 and is 12,6 kilometers long with a 7.3% average slope (height difference: 1056 m). To get to the top at a 1110 meters altitude, the riders -at 7 kilometers from the finish- the riders will have to get over the most difficult part at La Huesera: over 13% for a bit more than 500 meters. The last few years this part was often decisive for the stage win. The last time the Vuelta visited this mountain, in 2007, the stage victory was for Vladimir Efimkin. This climb is often seen as the Spanish Alpe d'Huez.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

16/ Monday 13 September 2010 : Gijón > Cotobello - 181.4 km - mountain stage

This Monday the third mountain stage in row is awaiting the riders ... fortunately they can get some rest the next day.

With no less than three 1st category climbs (one of which being the never used before climb to Cotobello) and one 3rd category climb this stage is one of the most difficult ones. After a bit more than 45 kilometers from the start in Gijón the riders already reach the top of the Alto de la Cabruñana (3rd category, 375 m). This will be followed by the 3 first category climbs: first the Alto de San Lorenzo (1350 m) with slopes up to 15%, followed by the Puerto de la Cobertoria (1174 m, average slope: 8.6%) and finally the 10 kilometer long climb to Cotobello with a 8.1% average slope with a maximum of 12% at several parts.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

17/ Wednesday 15 September 2010 : Peñafiel > Peñafiel - 46 km - individual time trial

After the second rest day, it's time for the only individual time trial of this 65th Vuelta. With the finish and the start in a city which the Vuelta never visited before, Peñafiel, this stage proposes a completely flat route with long straight lines and thus perfect for time trial experts. That is, if they manage to get through the two first weeks without too much trouble!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

18/ Thursday 16 September 2010 : Valladolid > Salamanca - 148.9 km - plain

With its start from Valladolid this is a historical stage: not only because the Vuelta starts for the 34th time in this 65th edition but also because Valladolid was on 29 April 1935 (the Vuelta took place in April/May until 1995, it only found it's current positioning in August/September in 1996) the very first start city of the Vuelta.
In this plain stage the sprinters will most probably try to pass the finish line first in Salamanca, if the wind is not going to spoil their plans and split up the peloton ...

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

19/ Friday 17 September 2010 : Piedrahita > Toledo - 231.2 km - plain

With its 200 kilometers this is the second longest stage. After the start from Piedrahita, which will be visited for the very first time by the Vuelta, the riders will immediately start the climb of the Puerto de Chia (2nd category, 1670 m), but apart from this climb this stage's route is completely flat. The riders who still have some energy left will thus have a perfect occasion to get away in a leading group and try to get the stage win, except if the sprinters teams are able to get back on them before the finish.

Ci-dessous vous trouverez l'itinéraire horaire, le profil et la carte Google Maps de cette étape. Cliquez sur chacune des images pour les agrandir.

20/ Saturday 18 September 2010 : San Martín de Valdeiglesias > Bola del Mundo - 172.1 km - mountain stage

As usual, the Vuelta proposes a difficult mountain stage at the end which might lead to some final changes in the general ranking and thus keep some surprises until the very end.
After the start from San Martín de Valdeiglesias the stage starts with a quite easy climb to the top of the Puerto de la Cruz Verde (3rd category, 1256 m). Than, the difficult part of the stage starts: first of all the climb to the Alto del Leon (1st category, 1515 m). After a short descent and a flat part they'll start the climb to the top of the Puerto de Navacerrada (1st category, 1870 m). After the descent towards Guadarrama the riders will climb the same mountain again. Once they arrive at the top, they will however continue for 3 kilometers to the top which was never visited before by the Vuelta, the Alto de las Guarramillas which is better known as the Bola del Mundo (hors catégorie, 2250 m). In this last part the riders will find slopes up to 12.5%.

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

21/ Sunday 19 September 2010 : San Sebastián de los Reyes > Madrid - 85 km - plain

For this stage we know beforehand it will be done in slow motion while drinking a glass of champagne.
For this edition the Vuelta organisor, Unipublic, decided to make it a very short stage of exactly 100 kilometers. After the start from San Sebastián de los Reyes the riders will thus rapidly find the usual circuit on the Paseo de la Castellana. This 6 kilometer circuit will be done about 8 times before -most probably- a sprinter will cross the finish line first on the Plaza de la Cibeles in Madrid!

You'll find the time- and route schedule, the stage profile and the route on Google Maps for this stage below. Click on each of the images to open them.

The 2010 Tour of Spain route, downloadable in Google Earth in KML format

You've just discovered all details of the stages of this Vuelta a España 2010 including the time and route schedules, the stage profiles and for each of the stages the route on Google Maps.

If you would like to see the whole 2010 Tour of Spain at once, you can download the KML file below and open it with Google Earth.
>> Download the 2010 Vuelta a España route in Google Earth

This file will not only allow you to see the full route in Google Earth, but also to do a virtual fly-over over the route of one or more of the stages. To do so, you can of course use the default settings of Google Earth, but if you want to do a fly-over which really gives you the idea you were on your bike riding on the roads of the Vuelta a España 2010, I recommend you the following settings: in the menu Tools > Options choose the tab Touring and fill in the following choices on that tab:
- Camera tilt angle : 80.0 degrees
- Camera range : 150.0 meters
- Speed : 500.0 (if this makes you feel dizzy or if your computer or Internet connection don't allow you to get clear images with these settings, you can try lowering the speed)

door Thomas Vergouwen
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this publication is published in: Vuelta a España | Vuelta a España 2010 | OpenStreetMap/Google Maps/Google Earth

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