The return of the Vuelta in the Basque country this year will take place the international cycling race in Spain a week earlier than in past years. The 66th edition of the Vuelta a Espana begins on Saturday August 20, 2011, extends over 3,300 km, which are in 21 stages, and ends on Sunday, September 11. Is after the Giro d’Italia and the tour de France, the Vuelta in Spain the last major test before the cycling world championships in Copenhagen, which will be held from September 19 to 25. The Vuelta starts on August 20 with a team time trial on a technically demanding course with 13.5 km length, the starting point is the picturesque West Beach of Benidorm. From a sporting point of view, the tour of Spain will be very tough, says Vincenzo Nibali, the winner of 2010, with at least six mountain arrivals, which applies to cope with it.
A Vuelta for climbers, where it is already in the first part of the upward trend. Already at the beginning of the second stage of the athletes have to compete with the plateau of Relleu, in which the first Jersey for the best mountain riders will be awarded. But the first Black Pearl comes at the 4th stage with the mountain top finish on the Sierra Nevada, the hardest climb awaits the riders with the Angliru in the 15th stage: 18 km climb at an altitude difference of 1403 feet with an average gradient of 8% and steep passages with over 20%. A very complete tour, in which the athletes well must divided their energies, with an individual time trial of 40 km through the streets of Salamanca at halftime of the Vuelta on the 10th day and with only two days off. The most important novelty from a symbolic perspective is certainly the renewed involvement of the Basque country for 33 years.