The 2025 Vuelta a España features an uphill finish on the very second day. After starting in Turin, the race continues with a stage from Alba to Limone Piemonte, where a tough finish is planned. The climb is not very difficult, but the favorites will need to be alert right from the start. WielerFlits looks ahead.
The Vuelta wouldn’t be the Vuelta without early mountain challenges. This year is no exception. Even in Italy, the organizers have found a significant climb early on to create the first time gaps in the general classification. That climb is Monte Limone (7.6 kilometers at 5.4%), a second-category ascent.
Sunday starts on flat roads as the peloton leaves Alba in the opening kilometers. The town, which has Ligurian roots, is known for its white truffles, but riders will probably have little to do with those on this stage. The peloton quickly sets off from Alba towards the Alps in the opening phase.
During the 159.6-kilometer stage, the first 150 kilometers are easy. The peloton rolls through villages like Saluzzo, Busca (where the intermediate sprint takes place, ed.), Cuneo, and Borgo San Dalmazzo before gradually reaching the base of Monte Limone. From Limone Piemonte, the climb to the ski resort Limone 1400 begins.
This climb is not very tough, but it does get considerably steeper toward the top. Riders with a strong punch in their legs might be able to break away here. Limone 1400 was also featured in the 2002 Giro d’Italia when Stefano Garzelli won a sprint of four riders.
Stage winner and classification leaders after stage 1
We might see a strange mix of names in the top ten. For an uphill finish, we naturally think first of climbers and GC contenders, but the climb to Limone 1400 also offers opportunities for different types of riders, especially given the almost flat approach.
For this reason, we still list Mads Pedersen. It’s going to be very tough for him, but with this phenomenon, we don’t rule out a surprise. The powerhouse from Lidl-Trek has previously shocked us on climbs. Remember, for example, the recent Paris-Nice? There, Pedersen finished tenth on the mountain stage to Auron, ahead of riders like Matteo Jorgenson and João Almeida. He impressed even more in the final stage to Nice. If he has legs like that again, the Dane should go far. Pedersen’s opening stage didn’t go as planned, but given his dominance in the Tour of Denmark, he’s definitely in form.
So we give Pedersen a chance, but he is not the top favorite for this route. That honor goes to his compatriot Jonas Vingegaard. Although the Visma | Lease a Bike leader excels on truly tough climbs, he will handle Monte Limone with ease. The 28-year-old Dane also appears to have gained explosiveness this year, which could come in handy on the Vuelta’s second day.
In the general classification of the Vuelta, Vingegaard must particularly watch out for a duo from UAE Emirates XRG: Juan Ayuso and João Almeida. The Spaniard and the Portuguese rider will have to deliver in the opening weekend, but their form remains uncertain. Ayuso underperformed in preparation at the Clásica San Sebastián, while Almeida hasn’t raced since withdrawing from the Tour de France with a broken rib. Still, both climbers have shown in the past that they have the punch needed to finish off a stage like this.
The Monte Limone should also suit the punchy Giulio Ciccone. The Italian from Lidl-Trek will be extra motivated to win on home soil, though he also knows how to win in Spain. In August, he won both the Clásica San Sebastián and the queen stage of the Vuelta a Burgos. That means he’s ready for the Vuelta.
Tom Pidcock – even more explosive than Ciccone – was successful on a punchy finish in the Arctic Race of Norway. It was the Brit’s fifth win of the season, but he has yet to claim a truly big victory in the colors of his new team Q36.5. Will he manage it now? His performance in Norway is very promising. According to calculations by Kārlis Ozols, power analyst at Lanterne Rouge, it was even the best performance on a short climb since the beginning of this century. The figures: 7.91 watts per kilo over 8 minutes and 16 seconds. Impressive.
We don’t know the exact power output Victor Langellotti produced on his way to stage victory in the Tour of Poland, but it was certainly fast! The Monegasque sprang like a jack-in-the-box on the final climb of the sixth stage and edged out Brandon McNulty at the last moment. It was Langellotti’s first WorldTour win, but it would surprise us if it’s his last. The 30-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider has a dangerous weapon in his strong uphill sprint — a weapon he can deploy again on this second stage of the Vuelta.
Langellotti outsprinted riders including Antonio Tiberi in that decisive stage. At least, in that particular stage. In the overall classification, the Italian performed even better, finishing second. This result suggests that Tiberi is ready to take revenge in the Vuelta a España after a disappointing Giro d’Italia. Will he show it on day two? His teammate Santiago Buitrago might even be better suited to this finish, but it remains to be seen how good the Colombian currently is. He couldn’t impress in the Tour.
It’s also worth watching other established climbing names, such as Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R), Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), Jai Hindley, and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). Finally, we mention Cristian Rodríguez (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost), and Guillermo Thomas Silva (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). The latter, a Uruguayan who can both sprint and climb, has been collecting podium places in smaller races in recent years. Now he has the chance to prove himself against WorldTour heavyweights.
It will be cloudy Sunday morning in the start town Alba, with a chance of light rain. However, in the afternoon it stays dry, the sun may even peek out occasionally, and temperatures will rise to around 23 degrees Celsius. All in all, not bad racing weather.
The Vuelta a España will again be broadcast live this year on Eurosport 1 and HBO Max. In Belgium, Sporza will broadcast only eight of the 21 stages live starting in 2026, but there’s no change this year: the sports channel will still bring the Spanish race ‘directly’ into living rooms. Check our TV guide 'Cycling on TV' for exact broadcast times.
Alba) Puerto Limone)
Pedersen attacked in the final stage of Paris-Nice to defend his green jersey, successfully – photo: Cor Vos
Will Vingegaard strike immediately? – photo: Cor Vos
Pidcock celebrating in Norway – photo: Cor Vos
Langellotti surprised McNulty in Poland – photo: Cor Vos
