Vuelta a España to start in Monaco for the first time
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco will host the opening two stages of the 81st Vuelta a España, making it the only city to have launched all three Grand Tours.
The Principality will make cycling history this summer as the 81st Vuelta a España gets under way on its streets, adding a third Grand Tour start to Monaco's remarkable sporting record. Having already hosted the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, Monaco now stands alone as the only city in the world to have launched all three of the sport's most prestigious stage races.
The opening team time trial and the second road stage will both begin in Monaco before the peloton heads south into Spain. The Vuelta follows a growing trend of its organisers looking beyond Spain's borders for a dramatic curtain-raiser, with Portugal staging the 2024 edition's start and Italy hosting 2025's.
For residents, the race weekend will bring significant road closures across the Principality, with the route expected to take in familiar landmarks along the seafront and through the Port. Specific timing and traffic management details are due to be confirmed by the Direction de la Sûreté Publique in the weeks ahead.
The announcement adds to an already packed summer sporting calendar in Monaco, reinforcing the Principality's position as a destination that attracts world-class competition well beyond the Formula 1 Grand Prix in May.