Stage-by-stage guide to the action
Sunday 22 February 2015 17:50, UK
Chris Froome will start his 2015 season and renew his rivalry with Alberto Contador at the hilly Ruta del Sol in Spain from February 18-22.
Also known as the Vuelta a Andalucia, the race is made up of six stages spread over five days and includes two summit finishes and a time trial.
Alejandro Valverde won the last three editions but will be absent this year after opting to start his season in the Middle East instead.
Here's how the race will pan out...
Stage 1a: Wednesday, February 18 - La Rabida to Hinojos - 118.3km | Report
Result and general classification
1 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal, 3:01:44
2 Fabio Silvestre (Por) Trek Factory Racing, +2secs
3 Grega Bole (Slo) CC Sprandi Polkowice, same time
4 Michael van Staeyan (Bel) Cofidis, st
5 Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN-Qhubeka, st
6 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, st
7 Edward Theuns (Bel) Tosport Vlaanderen-Baloise, st
8 Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, st
9 Daniele Ratto (Ita) UnitedHealthcare, st
10 Sjoerd van Ginneken (Ned) Team Roompot, st
Selected others
14 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, st
19 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
Stage 1b: Wednesday, February 18 - Coria del Rio to Coria del Rio - 8.2km individual time trial | Report
Result
1 Javier Moreno (Esp) Movistar, 9:51
2 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, +2secs
3 Jerome Coppel (Fra) IAM Cycling, +4
4 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, +6
5 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +7
6 Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing, +8
7 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +11
8 Jerome Pineau (Fra) IAM Cycling, same time
9 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky, +13
10 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, +14
General classification
1 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, 3:11:43
2 Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing, same time
3 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +1sec
4 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, +8
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
6 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +12
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo, +17
8 Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, +18
9 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +20
10 Michael Valgren (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
Stage 2: Thursday, February 19 - Utrera to Lucena - 191.7km | Report
Result
1 Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, 4:51.57
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, same time
3 Grega Bole (Slo) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, st
4 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr, st
5 Eduard Prades (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, st
6 Daniele Ratto (Ita) UnitedHealthcare, st
7 Peio Bilbao (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, st
8 Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, st
9 Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Roompot, st
10 Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, st
General classification
1 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, 8:03.40
2 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +1sec
3 Chris Froome (Gbr) Team Sky, +8
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, st
5 Peter Kennaugh (Gbr) Team Sky, +12
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo, +17
7 Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, +18
8 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +20
9 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky, +21
10 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +28
Stage 3: Friday, February 20 - Motril to Alto de Hazallanas (Guejar Sierra) - 157.6km | Report
Result
1 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, 4:19:16
2 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, +19secs
3 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +1:41
4 Benat Intxuasti (Esp) Movistar, +1:58
5 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +2:01
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, +2:05
7 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) MTN-Qhubeka, +2:15
8 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +2:16
9 Sebastien Reichenbach (Sui) IAM Cycling, +2:30
10 Sergio Pardilla (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, +2:30
General classification
1 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, 12:22:55
2 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, +27
3 Benat Intxuasti (Esp) Movistar, +1:59
4 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +2:13
5 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +2:28
6 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +2:30
7 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky, +3:19
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, +3:41
9 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, +4:10
10 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +4:15
Stage 4: Saturday, February 21 - Maracena to Alto de las Allanadas (La Guardia de Jaen) - 199.8km | Report
Result
1 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, 5:08:54
2 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, +29secs
3 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +49
4 Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) Movistar, +59
5 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +1:00
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, +1:13
7 Sebastien Reichenbach (Sui) IAM Cycling, +1:26
8 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +1:27
9 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, same time
10 Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol, +1:38
General classification
1 1 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, 17:32:16
2 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, +2secs
3 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +2:32
4 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +2:52
5 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +3:13
6 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +3:50
7 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky, +5:07
8 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, +5:10
9 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, +5:30
10 Sergio Pardilla (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, +5:44
Stage 5: Sunday, February 22 - Montilla to Alhaurin de la Torre - 169.8km | Report
Result
1 Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, 3:48:56
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, +1sec
3 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, +2
4 Grega Bole (Slo) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, same time
5 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal, st
6 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, st
7 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
8 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Ag2r-La Mondiale, st
9 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
10 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, st
Final general classification
1 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky, 21:21:41
2 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo, +2secs
3 Benat Intxausti (Esp) Movistar, +2:11
4 Mikel Nieve (Esp) Team Sky, +3:05
5 Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale, +3:13 6 Peter Kennaugh (GB) Team Sky, +4:03
7 Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, +5:10
8 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky, +5:17
9 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling, +5:30
10 Sergio Pardilla (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, +5:50
Stage three. The climb to Alto de Hazallanas offers the most scope for significant gaps between the contenders for overall victory.
Chris Froome (Team Sky)
The Briton will like the look of the two summit finishes and is almost certain to be in contention for overall victory. He will also hope to gain a handful of seconds on his rivals in the stage 1b time trial.
Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Contador was in imperious climbing form at last year's Vuelta a Espana on similar ascents to the Alto de Hazallanas and Alto de las Allanadas. It's his first race in the build-up to the Giro d'Italia, so he will be keen to show good form.
Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing)
The Dutchman may struggle to keep pace with Froome and Contador on the steep climbs but he could be a good outside bet for a place on the podium.
Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
One of the big hopes of French cycling, the 24-year-old will be keen to build on his impressive 2014 campaign this year and could well challenge for a place on the podium.
- Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
- Chris Froome (Team Sky).
- Pete Kennaugh (Team Sky).
2014: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).
2013: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).
2012: Alejandro Valverde (Esp).
2011: Markel Irizar (Esp).
2010: Michael Rogers (Aus).
2009: Joost Posthuma (Ned).
2008: Pablo Lastras (Esp).
2007: Oscar Freire (Esp).
2006: Carlos Garcia Quesada (Esp).
2005: Francisco Cabello (Esp).
WorldTour only
AG2R-LA MONDIALE
Country: France.
Team: Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra), Jan Bakelants (Bel), Romain Bardet (Fra), Blel Kadri (Fra), Sebastien Minard (Fra), Christophe Riblon (Fra), Johan Vansummeren (Bel).
FDJ.FR
Country: France.
Team: Cedric Pineau (Fra), Alexandre Geniez (Fra), Kenny Elissonde (Fra), Murilo Fischer (Bra), Anthony Roux (Fra), Jeremy Roy (Fra), Arthur Vichot (Fra).
GIANT-ALPECIN
Country: Germany.
Team: John Degenkolb (Ger), Johannes Frohlinger (Ger), Koen de Kort (Ned), Caleb Fairly (USA), Simon Geschke (Ger), Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe), Daan Olivier (Ned).
IAM CYCLING
Country: Switzerland.
Team: Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), Jerome Coppel (Fra), Pirmin Lang (Sui), Jerome Pineau (Fra), Sebastien Reichenbach (Sui), Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat), Marcel Wyss (Sui).
LOTTONL-JUMBO
Country: Netherlands.
Team: Wilco Kelderman (Ned), Laurens ten Dam (Ned), Moreno Hofland (Ned), Steven Kruijswijk (Ned), Tom Leezer (Ned), Maarten Tjallinggii (Ned), Jos van Emden (Ned).
LOTTO SOUDAL
Country: Belgium.
Team: Jurgen van den Broeck (Bel), Maxime Monfort (Bel), Bart de Clerq (Bel), Pim Ligthart (Ned), Jelle Vanendert (Bel), Louis Vervaeke (Bel), Tim Wellens (Bel).
MOVISTAR
Country: Spain.
Team: Gorka Izagirre (Esp), Jose Herrada (Esp), Eros Capecchi (Ita), Benat Intxausti (Esp), Juan Jose Lobato (Esp), Javier Moreno (Esp), Giovanni Visconti (Ita).
TEAM SKY
Country: Great Britain.
Team: Chris Froome (GB), Peter Kennaugh (GB), Vasil Kiryienka (Blr), Mikel Nieve (Esp), Nicolas Roche (Irl), Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Zabier Zandio (Esp).
TINKOFF-SAXO
Country: Russia.
Team: Alberto Contador (Esp), Ivan Basso (Ita), Michael Valgren (Den), Jesus Hernandez (Esp), Sergio Paulinho (Por), Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Matteo Tossato (Ita).
TREK FACTORY RACING
Country: United States.
Team: Bauke Mollema (Ned), Bob Jungels (Lux), Stijn Devolder (Bel), Frank Schleck (Lux), Jesse Sergent (NZ), Fabio Silvestre (Por), Haimar Zubeldia (Esp).
