The Vuelta 2022, starting in Utrecht, Netherlands, will begin with a magnificent team time trial through the city streets.

A demanding journey

There Vuelta 2022 It offers an extremely hilly and mountainous route. Throughout the three weeks, the course is demanding. After a flat start in the Netherlands, the Vuelta doesn't let up in the first week with a very hilly route in northern Spain.

The Vuelta will then head towards the Sierra Nevada, well-known to cyclists as an exceptional training ground. Stages will be offered along the Mediterranean coast for the sprinters, and finally, a summit finish is scheduled at the Alto del Piornal, the decisive climb of this 2022 Vuelta, three days before the finish in Madrid. However, two hilly stages follow; while they won't reach the summit, the general classification contenders will need to remain focused.

Our four top favorites at the start

Primoz Roglic

Primoz Roglic, three-time defending Vuelta winner, is obviously one of the favorites for this year's Tour of Spain. Looking to redeem himself after a somewhat disappointing Tour de France, it's difficult to predict his form at the finish of this Vuelta. Indeed, after an early withdrawal from the Tour following a crash and a fractured vertebra, it's hard to know how quickly the Slovenian will recover. Nevertheless, he remains one of the top contenders for overall victory in this Vuelta.

Richard Carapaz

The Ineos Grenadiers climber is emerging as the overwhelming favorite for the 2022 Vuelta a España. Indeed, with Roglic's form uncertain, the Ecuadorian climber has become the number one favorite. After three podium finishes in the last three Grand Tours, Carapaz's objective is to win the 2022 Vuelta.

Simon Yates

Simon Yates makes his grand return to the Vuelta a España. After a victory in 2018, the British climber ventured onto the roads of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. He returns to the Vuelta in 2022 with a clear objective: to win it again. Simon Yates arrives fresh, having had few race days, but his numerous victories in 2022 already demonstrate his excellent form this season.

Jay Hindley

Reigning Giro d'Italia champion Jay Hindley aims for a repeat victory this year. The Bora-Hansgrohe leader arrives fresh and brimming with confidence following his Giro win. He will have a strong support team, including top-class mountain teammates like Vlasov, Kelderman, and Buchmann, as well as other capable riders to assist him in the opening team time trial.

Bonus: Remco Evenepoel

A true outsider, Remco, a young Belgian talent, will embark on his first Vuelta with a well-planned preparation. He's coming to compete for the general classification, and even if his true potential is still unknown, he'll be one to watch over these three weeks, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him on the podium in Madrid.

The French at the start

Several French riders are participating in the Vuelta, first and foremost our magnificent world champion, Julian Alaphilippe.After a comeback at the Tour de Wallonie and a bout with Covid, he returns to the Vuelta after fine-tuning his preparation on the roads of the tour of the Ain. Julian will be back, motivated, and eager to win a stage on this Vuelta, a race he hasn't raced since 2017 when he won a stage.

We will also see Remi Cavagna joining him, as well as many other French riders such as Bryan Coquard for the sprints, and Dorian Godon and Nans Peters within the AG2R Citroën team. Numerous French breakaway specialists like Quentin Pacher, Julien Bernard, and Laurent Pichon will be present on the roads of the Vuelta, aiming for a stage victory.

Come watch the Vuelta broadcast live at Matchy Cyclist Clubhouse From August 19th to September 11th.