The first women's Vuelta
In 2015, the organizers of the Vuelta Ciclista a España decided to organize a one-day women's race, following the example of La Course by Le Tour de France, which had been created a year earlier. Thus, the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta was born, which in its 8 years of history gradually increased the number of competition days until it reached 5 last year. For the 2023 campaign, and once again after seeing the success of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the race extends to 7 stages and changes its name to become La Vuelta Femenina, with the intention of consolidating a top-level race on par with the Tour and the Giro women’s races.
Route
The race proposes a 7-stage route, starting with a 14-kilometer team time trial that will make the first differences in the general classification. Stages 2, 3, and 4 are categorized as flat, while the last 3 stages are when the mountains come, especially on Friday, with the finish at Mirador de Penas Llanas (4.6 km at 7.2%) and on Sunday with the seventh and final stage that presents the finish line at the top of Lagos de Covadonga (13.3 km at 6.8%).
Favorites
The start list is still in a very early stage, but at the moment, Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200) and Demi Vollering (1200) lead the list of favorites. The current list also includes Liane Lippert (1000), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Juliette Labous (1000), Mavi García (800), Elise Chabbey (1000), and Gaia Realini (200), but many teams still have to confirm their lineups.
Emma Norsgaard (1000), Charlotte Kool (400), Rachele Barbieri (400), and Tereza Neumanová (400) are amongst the fastest for sprints arrivals on the provisional start list.
Photo: © Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta