Torrevieja Hosts the Start of La Vuelta Femenina Presented by Carrefour.es
Officials unveiled the first edition of the Women’s Tour from Carrefour.es, scheduled for May 1–7. The province of Alicante, with emphasis on the Vega Baja region, serves as the spotlight through sponsorship and collaboration with the Alicante State Council and the tourism brand White Shore, highlighting Torrevieja as the opening hub.
The seven-day race begins in Torrevieja on Monday, May 1, and closes on May 7 at Covadonga Lakes. Throughout its route, the event will traverse eight provinces across six autonomous communities, combining time trials, flat stages, a mid-mountain stage, and two challenging mountain stages. The course is designed to test a broad roster of riders and teams, with a mix of sprint opportunities and climbing milestones.
Unipublic, the organizer behind the event, continues to anchor Torrevieja as the starting point, echoing the city’s role in the 2019 Vuelta a España for the men’s race. The opening team time trial takes place in an urban layout within the town, followed by a second-day route across the Alicante region, linking Orihuela and Horadada along a coastal corridor.
After two days in Alicante, the peloton moves into Albacete. Elche de la Sierra marks the start of the longest stage, covering 148 kilometers as the race progresses toward the central plateau, presenting a demanding profile for competitors.
The La Vuelta Femenina peloton continues north, linking the provincial capitals of Badajoz and Guadalajara on a day favorable to sprinters. Stage five introduces a first climb of significance with a five-kilometer ascent in the second category, followed by the ascent of Navafría near Madrid as the riders approach the Cabrera area.
Women’s Tour of Spain Kicks Off in Torrevieja
VL Deltel
The northern stretch of the country will take center stage for the weekend’s stages. On Saturday, May 6, Cantabria hosts the sixth stage, with Castro Urdiales and Laredo featuring climbs at the Baras Fountain and Campo el Hayal. Both points lie in the Cantabria region and emphasize the day’s mixed profile.
The finale unfolds in Asturias on Sunday, May 7, with a start in Pola de Siero and a route toward the eastern reaches of the Principality. The final ascent reaches Covadonga Lakes, one of La Vuelta’s most storied summits. This moment marks the culmination of Carrefour.es’s first edition of La Vuelta Femenina, aligning with the milestone 40-year anniversary since La Vuelta’s inaugural tour in 1983.
ANNEMIEK VAN VLEUTEN AND BLUE GARCÍA
“Finishing on a renowned summit amplifies media impact and lends greater visibility to the race. The organizers chose Covadonga Lakes for the grand finale, a climb known for its difficulty. The route’s balance with straight stages should foster an exciting competition,” said Annemiek van Vleuten, rider for the Movistar team and winner of the 2022 edition. The Dutch rider added, “It’s a very complete tour.”
The reigning Spanish road and time trial champion, Blue García of Mallorca, noted, “This route offers choices for many riders. While climbers will contend for the general classification, the team time trial and flat stages create chances for other contenders. It should be a well-rounded race.”
A GLOBAL COMPETITION WITH WIDE REACH
Carrefour.es’s Women’s Tour broadcasts two hours daily across 15 television stations. The scale mirrors other major races, with hundreds of thousands of spectators following the event and millions more tuning in worldwide, according to an audience study conducted by a telecommunications analytics firm.
TORREVIEJA AND COSTA BLANCA AT THE HEART OF THE CYCLING WORLD
The Alicante province will once again anchor world cycling in 2023. Known for its favorable climate and world-class infrastructure, the region is highlighted as a premier stage for high-level competition in women’s cycling. Alicante’s leadership, along with the Costa Blanca’s tourism strategy, reinforces the area as a dynamic home for the sport. The officials emphasized a strong commitment to cycling and the economic and tourist benefits brought by major events.
They underscored that the province remains a reference point for professional cycling, especially in women’s sport, and affirmed the local government’s steadfast support for La Vuelta and women’s events in the region.