Cycling: 2017 Vuelta route unveiled

Organisers of the Vuelta a Espana unveiled the route for this year’s edition on Thursday at a ceremony in Madrid.

For the very first time the Vuelta will start in France and only the third time it has started outside of Spain.

The final grand tour of the season will begin in Nimes with a team time trial on Saturday 19th August.

There will be nine summit finishes for the competitors while organisers confirmed the return to the race of Spain’s toughest climb – the Angliru on stage 20.

The 72nd edition of the race is definitely for the out-and-out climbers.

The 21st and final stage will take the riders to the capital Madrid but the race should already have been won by then.