Sportive Breaks

0161 676 0390 | [email protected]

2024 Vuelta a Espana Final Week Tour

Sat 31 August – Mon 9 September 2024

Sat 31 Aug – Mon 9 September 2024

9 nights, 10 days

VIP stage access included

2024 tour price

£2899

Key Features of our Vuelta Tour

The Final 9 days of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana with Sportive Breaks. Official Tour Operator of the Vuelta a Espana

Sportive Breaks are your Official Tour Operator for the 2024 Vuelta a Espana.  Our tour will start and finish in Madrid. On this tour we stay in Oviedo, Rioja and Burgos as well as Madrid. 

As we are an official Vuelta tour operator we have access to exclusive Vuelta VIP experiences which are included with your tour. On this tour you will see three high altitude finishes; Stage 16 at Covadonga, Alto Moncalvillo during Stage 19 and the Stage 20 finish atop Picon Blanco. The tour concludes by heading south and arriving to Madrid in time for the Stage 21 Individual Time Trial. This is an innovative finish which will find you enjoying VIP access as the 2024 Vuelta champion is crowned. What a week of cycling watching Spain’s premiere road cycling race!

For the cyclists we offer daily guided and supported rides. Highlights include the Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga and the Picos de Europa.

What's Included?

Accommodation

9 nights in excellent hotels

Included Meals

Daily breakfasts and 6 nights  have dinner included

Transfer

Airport transfers at set times to Madrid Barajas Airport on departure.

Bike Rental

Carbon road bike hire available

Daily Programme

For cyclists and spectators

Official Vuelta Hospitality

Cross the Finish Experience and Finish Hospitality plus Neptuno VIP in Madrid included.

Watch the Race for Red from up close: Be with us for the exciting final stage of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. See the peloton ride through the Capital city then watch the winner being crowned on the final day in Madrid.

Spread your payments: Our interest free payment system allows you to spread out your payments for the tour

Ride the Angliru: Test yourself on L’Angliru one of Europe’s toughest road cycling climbs. We think it is harder than the Mortirolo & Zoncolan in Italy, so that is saying something! 

Excellent hotels included: Enjoy our hotels including Balnearios’ (spa resorts) and Madrid city centre hotel

Cycle the Picos de Europa National Park: Spain’s version of the Dolomites with its alpine limestone peaks, pristine forests, lakes and deep canyon roads! 

Ride the Lagos de Covadonga: On the race route in 2024, this stunning climb is a must do.

Live race viewing from Vuelta Hospitality Areas: Witness the excitement of live racing in comfort from official Vuelta hospitality areas: VIP Finish, Cross the Finish Experience and Neptuno hospitality on the final stage in Madrid

LIVE race viewing: 5  distinct live encounters with the 2024 Vuelta; 2 summit finishes, 2 mid-stage viewing and the final time trial in Madrid. Get up close and personal to all the Vuelta action with our VIP inside race access!

Itinerary

Pre-Tour - Bienvenido(a) en Espana

Date

Saturday 31 August 2024

Location

Madrid

For those wanting to arrive to Madrid early then we can help you with your extra pre-tour accommodation. If you are travelling with your own bike, we recommend this option as you will have time to build your bike and organise storage of your bike bag with the hotel before the tour starts. Check-in to your central Madrid hotel will be available from 3pm onwards.

Daily Highlights

Rides

No rides today

Meals

No meals

Day One -

Date

Sunday 1 September 2024

Location

Oviedo

Our guides will be available to collect you from the Radisson Blu hotel (Madrid) at approximately 10:00am. From Madrid we drive 4hr to the edge of the Somiedo National Park (Asturias). Here there will be time for lunch and to set-up the hire bikes before our first official ride. While this is essentially a transfer day, we are pleased to offer you all a fantastic first-up ride. To set the scene, you will begin on the ‘Puerto Ventana’ climb (note – puerto or alto in Spanish is equivalent to col in French). This 7km climb at 4.8% is perhaps the easiest climb you will ride for the entire tour. It is a constant climb without any steep ramps, so it will be a great way to get rid of any cobwebs!
From the summit, the ride follows some great backroads (practically all downhill and flat) through the ‘bear gorge’ to our spa resort hotel on the outskirts of Oviedo. You are now in prime position for the upcoming Stage 16 summit finish on the nearby Lagos de Covadonga peak. This evening over dinner listen-in to the amazing week of Vuelta cycling we have in store for you!

Daily Highlights

Ride

65km / 800m elevation gain

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Medium Ride

Day Two - The mythical Angliru

Date

Monday 2 September 2024

Location

Oviedo

Road cycling enthusiasts will know all too well that Asturias since the 1980’s has been home to some of the most iconic Vuelta stages. In no time at all climbs such as Lagos de Covadonga, La Cobertoria and El Angliru have become household names. Now is your chance to see what all the hype is about.

Today is all about taking advantage of the Vuelta rest day and visiting L’Angliru. Are you ready? Having cycled this monster a number of times we can honestly say that you are never really ready for L’Angliru. If your bike has the right gearing – compact cranks with at least a 32 rear cassette, you have some training in the legs and strong willpower this should be enough to get you to the top. This will probably be your greatest road cycling achievement to date and for all times for that matter.

El ‘Alto del Angliru’ is not part of the 2024 Vuelta race edition. It was first introduced by La Vuelta organisers during 1999. The 12.5km climb with 10.2% average grade we think puts it in the top 3 of all European road cycling climbs. Sounds tough right! But wait for it, the final 6.5km average 13.5% with half a dozen extended ramps ranging between 19 to 23.5%. ‘Un autentico infierno’ as the locals would say! As soon as L’Angliru made race news, it spread like a wildfire across the cycling world. There have now been 9 stage finishes since 1999 and Alberto Contador is the only rider with multiple stage wins. Primoz Roglic won the stage during 2023 as the whole ‘who is leading Jumbo-Visma dilemma’ unfolded!

Daily Highlights

Ride

Alto de Angliru – 80km/ 2000m ascent

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Medium Ride

Day Three - Lagos de Covadonga

Date

Tuesday 3 September 2024

Location

Oviedo

In 1936 La Vuelta arrived to Asturias for the first time. Now you too are here to ride and watch as the 2024 race moves deeper into Asturias. Today the pro peloton has a date with destiny, and it goes by the name Lagos de Covadonga! Whether you are a photographer, nature lover, hiker or cyclist everyone must visit Lagos de Covadonga (lago = lake). The majestic lakes which are found at the summit return to the 2024 race edition.
In the morning there will be a 45min transfer towards the Cantabrian Sea. The first climb on the cards is the impressive Mirador del Fito (Mirador = Lookout). Get the legs going with this 7km climb at 7.9% average grade. The work needs to be done when the double-digit grades strike between KM3-5. With green vegetation all around and a snaking road up to the lookout, the Asturian coastline views will be sure to impress!
The descent now delivers you to the base of the Picos de Europa National Park. These mountains are commonly referred to as ‘Pequeño Dolomiti’ (Little Dolomites). 14km of constant climbing (7% average) takes you up to the towering limestone peaks. There is a testing 3km stretch during the mid-section which constantly hovers around 11% average. Make sure you are ready to cover any stage defining attacks! Lagos de Covadonga was first included during the 1983 Vuelta race. During the last 40 years there have been no less than 21 epic stage finishes. It is one of the most loved climbs with the ‘aficionado’ and Spanish and French champions Pedro Delgado and Laurent Jalabert respectively are the only riders to have taken out multiple stage wins.
The Fito / Covadonga double was last used during Stage 15 of the 2018 Vuelta when Thibaut Pinot took line honours over Miguel Angel Lopez and Simon Yates. What will happen out on the road in 2024? The chance to take in VIP race hospitality at the summit finish will be a major highlight for our tour group!

Daily Highlights

Ride

Lagos de Covadonga – 75km / 2200m elevation gain

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Medium Ride

Day Four - Cuitu Negru and move to Rioja

Date

Wednesday 4 September 2024

Location

Rioja

Today we head ‘back in time’ in search of the 2024 Stage 15 Vuelta finish. A few days ago the peloton finished a gruelling climb up to Cuitu Negru. We will use our Asturian base to also tackle this beast. Following a 25min drive we will be near the base and ready to ride to the summit away from the race. It is a narrow asphalted road which finishes at the top of the Valgrande ski station.
Cuitu Negru has only been used once before at La Vuelta. The 4WD track was asphalted specially for the 2012 Vuelta! The summit of the climb is situated 3km above the Puerto de Pajares climb. The two climbs when combined include 19km at a 7% average grade. It is the 3 final kilometres though which are gruesome. An inconsistent 13% average awaits with a number of ramps touching 20 and 22%. Now that you have added another summit to your cycling CV it will be time to enjoy the ride and descend towards Leon.
Post ride there will be a 3hr drive to our new base in La Rioja wine region. Our base for the next 3 nights borders between Basque Country and La Rioja. As La Vuelta race organisers know well, La Rioja is the perfect location for cycling as the short distances between medieval towns and old and new wineries make for some very scenic viewing. Remember, you have now set foot in the award winning La Rioja wine region. It would be rude not to taste test a glass or two of the tempranillo grape. Una botella de tinto por favor!

Daily Highlights

Ride

90km / 1350m elevation gain

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Medium Ride

Day Five - Vuelta Stage 18 - Rioja Balcony Road

Date

Thursday 5 September 2024

Location

Rioja

Today you will cycle some of our favourite roads in Spain. Riding from Laguardia you will follow 50km of the Stage 18 Vuelta course. The route today follows the medium mountains along La Rioja / Basque Country border. ‘Alto de Rivas de Tereso’ and ‘Puerto Herrera’ are Category 2 and Category 1 climbs respectively. The plan is to tackle both of these climbs and be in position to watch the race as it passes mid-stage. Puerto Herrera is the most challenging of the two climbs with its 6km averaging 8.2% average grade. The views on what is known as the ‘Balcony of La Rioja’ road are exceptional!
After watching the race pass the descent back to the terraced vineyards will be one to remember. We will have you back in the hotel in time to watch the Vuelta Stage 18 finish on TV with a cold drink!
As the early evening approaches our guides will be pleased to show you all the medieval walled town of Laguardia which has hardly changed since the 13th Century. The sunset from the watch tower with the Sierra de Cantabria mountains in the background is not to be missed. This village still today houses a rabbit warren of underground wine cellars and there will be time to visit a private cellar directly beneath the old impenetrable walls. Back on street level and a selection of tapas will be the perfect way to round out an excellent day!

Daily Highlights

Ride

95km / 1600m elevation gain

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Long Ride

Day Six - Vuelta Stage 19 – Alto Moncalvillo

Date

Friday 6 September 2024

Location

Rioja

Following breakfast we set off from the hotel and cycle past terraced vineyards and through small villages. There are no extended climbs within the first 80km but the ride does follow an undulating course with plenty of vantage points for the photographers in the group. There are some modern wineries along the route that the guides will point out. It is remarkable how the eye-catching architecture still blends in so well with the natural landscape. The Marques de Riscal winery is perhaps the finest example of where old meets new. The winery which was founded in 1858 now also houses a Frank Gehry designed building to match the Guggenheim museum.
Our cycling route today links up with the final kilometres of the Vuelta Stage 19 course. We have left the best for last as you will climb ‘Alto Moncalvillo’ just like the pro peloton. The final 8.5km to the stage finish packs a punch and it’s 9% average grade is sure to create some decisive attacks. The distance to Madrid is closing so these shorter, sharper stage summit finishes will provide fantastic roadside viewing!
Post-stage there will be a 30min drive back to the hotel.

Daily Highlights

Ride

Alto Moncalvillo

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

Long Ride

Day Seven - Vuelta Stage 20 – Picon Blanco

Date

Saturday 7 September 2024

Location

Burgos

Stage 20 of the 2024 Vuelta is the out-and-out Queen stage of this Vuelta edition. Six categorised climbs lead to the base of the ‘Picon Blanco’ climb on the outskirts of Espinosa de los Monteros. A quaint town in the Burgos province which has seen plenty of pro racing with this climb used many times at the Vuelta a Burgos stage race. It has now been given a recall in 2024 as it was last rolled out at the 2021 Vuelta a España when Rein Taaramae won Stage 3 and took the leader’s jersey.
This morning we will set off from Laguardia with a 45min van transfer. Our ride heads north-west crossing between the Basque Country and Castile y Leon provinces. Solitary roads and woodlands will accompany you through to Espinosa. All that awaits now is the brutal finish up to ‘Picon Blanco’. The 8.4km provide an average grade of 9.2%. There are up to 20 ramps though with pinches between 13-17% which will test you all the way to the finish line. Through our VIP race connections you will be able to savour the effort expended with a ‘cross-the-finish-line and podium’ experience. Arriving a couple of hours before the pro peloton will allow some time to enjoy a celebration drink and snacks in a privileged location overlooking the plains below!
Post-stage we will drive 1.5hr south to Burgos which is a beautifully preserved medieval city. Sitting down to a quality paella dinner in front of the 13th Century gothic cathedral is always a fantastic experience for our guests!

Daily Highlights

Ride

Picon Blanco

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner

medium Ride

Day Eight - Stage 21 Vuelta Twilight Finish

Date

Sunday 8 September 2024

Location

Madrid

This morning following breakfast there will be a 2.5hr drive to Madrid. We will have you in the Spanish capital by approximately 12 noon. There will be time for a walk around the nearby Retiro park, some shopping and/or lunch. During the afternoon experience VIP hospitality at the Individual Time Trial finish.
As the sun starts to set over Paseo de la Castellana (Spain’s version of the Champs Elysees) the wizz of the wheels will return to Madrid. After many difficult closing mountain stages the surviving GC contenders will need to go for broke. A 22km individual time trial is all that now awaits! The post-race celebrations around the Cibeles fountain are spectacular. Sepp Kuss was a somewhat surprise winner of the 2023 edition. Will he be back to defend his title in 2024 or will he need to ride in a support role? Viva La Vuelta!

Daily Highlights

Ride

No ride today

Meals

Breakfast

Day Nine - Adios

Date

Monday 9 September 2024

Location

Madrid

Following breakfast our guides will be available to transfer you to Madird Airport. We can have you at the airport by 10:30am so please keep that in mind when organising any onwards flights. We trust you have enjoyed your Vuelta cycling experience and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Daily Highlights

Tour Dynamic

Daily Rides

We offer a guided ride each day. We have Paul as your bike guide on the road with you. We also have a support vehicle with driver who is also a mechanic. We will either transport everyone to a location from where we will start the daily rides, or we will ride straight out from the hotel. We offer vehicle support for the riders and the spectators will be transported to the day’s hospitality venue or to a vantage point to watch the race.

Transportation

On days where we move on to another hotel, we will transport luggage, bike boxes and bikes and we will offer an adapted itinerary depending on the day’s logistics.

Spectators

Riders and spectators are reunited to enjoy the hospitality and VIP experiences together. We attempt to keep hotel changes and transfers to a minimum.

Tour Start and Finish

Tour Start – Saturday 31 August or Sunday 1 September 2024

Our tour starts either at Madrid Barajas Airport or you can meet us at the first hotel on our tour in Madrid which is hotel Radisson Blu Madrid.

Tour Finish – Monday 9 September 2024

On departure we provide transport to Madrid Barajas airport.

Pricing

Tour prices for 10-day tour

  • £2899 per person based on two people sharing a twin (2 single beds) or double (one bed for couple)
  • £650 supplement per person for the single occupancy of a room

Bike Rental

  • Orbea Avant M30 carbon road bike hire, Shimano 105, Compact Cranks, 11/32 rear cassette, rim brakes – £229
  • BMC Teammachine carbon road bike hire, Shimano Ultegra Di2, Compact Cranks, 11/32 rear cassette, disc brakes – £449

Who is this tour for?

Cyclists and Spectators

Our tour is suitable for both cyclists of any level and non-cycling spectators. The hotels we stay at are in excellent locations with the world-renowned Spanish cuisine we all enjoy so much. Our daily, guided rides give cyclists the opportunity to ride some of the most beautiful climbs that feature on this year’s Vuelta a Espana. The inclusion of exclusive Vuelta Hospitality experiences elevates this tour to another level. Spectators can enjoy Vuelta culture in style and comfort.

More About Our Tour

5 Vuelta a Espana interactions

  • 3 September – Stage 16: Lagos de Covadonga – VIP Finish Hospitality
  • 5 September – Stage 18: Rioja
  • 6 September – Stage 19 – Alto Moncalvillo – Finish Hospitality
  • 7 September – Stage 20 – Picon Blanco – Cross the Finish and VIP Finish Hospitality
  • 8 September – Stage 21 – Madrid – Neptuno Hospitality included

Hotel locations

  • Oviedo
  • Rioja
  • Burgos
  • Madrid

Vuelta a Espana 2024 – VIP and Hospitality experiences included

Through our official partnership with the 2024 Vuelta a Espana we include exclusive VIP and Hospitality experiences with our tour.

Included Hospitality Experiences

Finish Hospitality

Finish hospitality offers a superb vantage point along the finishing straight. Non-stop catering and open bar service are included. Plasma TV screens broadcast the race until the riders come into view live.

 

Cross the Finish Experience

Feel like a pro for the day and cross under the official finish line of an actual Giro stage. We will guide you over the final kilometres of the stage and you will cross under the finish line before we take photos on the winner’s podium.

Vuelta a Espana gallery

BOOK NOW

Sportive Breaks are part of the Destination Sport Experiences Group. When clicking on the booking link below, you will be taken to the Destination Sport Experiences booking engine. If you have any questions, please do contact our team [email protected]

You're in safe hands

We have a team of highly experienced professionals who have been organising cycling trips for over 25 years. We are members of ABTA and ATOL so book with confidence.

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Spread your payments

Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. *Selected products. Terms and Conditions apply

Logistics covered

We know the routes, we know the roads. We know how the event works and the best hotels for the start and finish. We organise everything for you; transfers, bike transport, additional feed stops, rep support and more.

Find Out More About Other Cycling Tours With Sportive Breaks

Spread your payments: Our interest free payment system allows you to spread out your payments for the tour