La Vuelta a Espana

[William Marques]

It appears from the map that the Camino most likely to be affected by the Vuelta a Espana which starts on the 24th August is the Portugues. The Via de la Plata and Finisterre will also be close to the action.

For those who have not heard of it the Vuelta is like the Tour de France and is one of the three biggest bike races in the world. Roads may be closed and there will be crowds on any mountain roads on the Vuelta's itinerary.

http://www.lavuelta.com/indexen.html

 

[KinkyOne]

Yes, the Camino will be "affected" by La Vuelta a Espana (one of the three major cycle races in Europe amongst Tour de France and Giro d'Italia). For example the 4th stage has its start in Lalin, goes through SdC and ends in Fisterra.

More on that you can see here:
http://www.lavuelta.com/

Mingle, it's nice!

 

[newfydog]

The Vuelta draws about 1/10th the crowd of the Tour de France. We followed it for a week one year and had no problem finding accommodation, restaurants etc. We would have done more, but when it crossed this thing called the Camino, we couldn't resist the trail. and have been on the trails ever since.

We scheduled our trip one year to be in Burgos the day the Vuelta arrived and the impact was minimal. We walked to the finish and got a good view of the sprint without staking out our spot for hours. It is a great race for a cycling fan, top notch competition with out the crowds of the Tour.

 

[KinkyOne]

Has anyone been in Fisterra yesterday to see the end of La Vuelta etape?

Next Vuelta/Camino crossing will be on Via de la Plata (Sanabres) in Caceres tomorrow:
http://www.lavuelta.com/13/es/recorrido/index.html?e=6
and in Almendralejo the day after:
http://www.lavuelta.com/13/es/recorrido/index.html?e=7

And the next one on Via Augusta (I think) between Cadiz and Seville on 31.08.:
http://www.lavuelta.com/13/es/recorrido/index.html?e=8

On 11.09. La Vuelta will go through Logrono, Navarrete, Najera, Sto.Domingo de la Calzada and will end in Burgos:
http://www.lavuelta.com/13/es/recorrido/index.html?e=17
with next etape starting from Burgos the day after.

On 13.09. Del Norte will be affected with finish in Oviedo, Alto Naranco:
http://www.lavuelta.com/13/es/recorrido/index.html?e=19
(with next day through Grado)

La Vuelta will end on 15h of September in Madrid!

I would really like to see this if I'd be there...

 

[andy.d]

I walked into Toledo one year a few days after La Vuelta. At the end of a a 40km stage all that encoragement and '¡Venga!' written on the road got me there

 

[newfydog]

Chris Horner. my neighbor here in Bend, Oregon is on the verge of winning the Vuelta!!!! He survived attack after attack from the winner of the Tour of Italy today to hold onto the lead. One last basically ceremonial stage into Madrid to go, and at 41, he will be the oldest person ever to win a Grand Tour (by several years.)

Chris is a super guy, always smiling, and he lives on burgers and junk food.

 

[miguel_gp]

A great stage today. Congratulations to Chris Horner.

The scenery has been spectacular throughout and Galicia (in the sunshine!) looked mighty fine during the first few days of the race.

 

[MendiWalker]

Hopefully he´ll be clean and no "enhancement " has been used.

 

[ivar]

 

[LTfit]

Felicidades to Chris Horner for winning the Vuelta! Not bad for an almost 42 year old! It looked like a lovely day in Madrid.

 

[hecate105]

Great race and well won by Horner. It was wonderful to see the beautiful Spanish (and a little French) countryside, especially parts of the Caminos. Pontevedra, Vincent de Barquera and Oviedo - and especially Finisterra - I am sure I saw some pilgrims toiling up there....