2018 Vuelta a España

The 2018 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain between 25 August and 16 September 2018.^[1] The race was the 73rd edition of the Vuelta a España and was the final Grand Tour of the 2018 cycling season. The race started in Málaga and finished in Madrid.

2018 Vuelta a España

2018 UCI World Tour, race 31 of 37
Race details
Dates	25 August – 16 September
Stages	21
Distance	3,271.4 km (2,033 mi)
Winning time	82h 05' 58"
Results
Winner  Simon Yates (GBR) (Mitchelton–Scott)   Second  Enric Mas (ESP) (Quick-Step Floors)   Third  Miguel Ángel López (COL) (Astana) Points  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (Movistar Team) Mountains  Thomas De Gendt (BEL) (Lotto–Soudal) Youth  Enric Mas (ESP) (Quick-Step Floors) Combination  Simon Yates (GBR) (Mitchelton–Scott) Combativity  Bauke Mollema (NED) (Trek–Segafredo)   Team Movistar Team
← 2017 2019 →

The race was won by British rider Simon Yates from the team Mitchelton–Scott.

Teams

Main article: List of teams and cyclists in the 2018 Vuelta a España

The starting teams include:^[2]

UCI WorldTeams

• AG2R La Mondiale
• Astana
• Bahrain–Merida
• BMC Racing Team
• Bora–Hansgrohe
• Team Dimension Data
• EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale
• Team Katusha–Alpecin
• Lotto–Soudal
• LottoNL–Jumbo
• Mitchelton–Scott
• Movistar Team
• Quick-Step Floors
• Team Sky
• Team Sunweb
• Trek–Segafredo
• UAE Team Emirates
• Groupama–FDJ

Professional Continental teams

• Burgos BH
• Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
• Cofidis
• Euskadi–Murias

Pre-race favourites

Four former winners started the race; Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde (both from Movistar Team), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain–Merida) and Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates).^[3] The other riders considered contenders for the general classification were Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team), Simon Yates (Mitchelton–Scott), Miguel Ángel López (Astana), Michał Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb), Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL–Jumbo), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama–FDJ) and Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale).^[4]

Route and stages

Main articles: 2018 Vuelta a España, Stage 1 to Stage 11 and 2018 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21

List of stages^[5][6][7]

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
1	25 August	Málaga	8 km (5 mi)		Individual time trial	Rohan Dennis (AUS)
2	26 August	Marbella to Caminito del Rey	163.9 km (102 mi)		Hilly stage	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
3	27 August	Mijas to Alhaurín de la Torre	182.5 km (113 mi)		Hilly stage	Elia Viviani (ITA)
4	28 August	Vélez-Málaga to Alfacar	162 km (101 mi)		Mountain stage	Ben King (USA)
5	29 August	Granada to Roquetas de Mar	188 km (117 mi)		Intermediate stage	Simon Clarke (AUS)
6	30 August	Huércal-Overa to San Javier	153 km (95 mi)		Flat stage	Nacer Bouhanni (FRA)
7	31 August	Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcón	182 km (113 mi)		Hilly stage	Tony Gallopin (FRA)
8	1 September	Linares to Almadén	195.5 km (121 mi)		Hilly stage	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
9	2 September	Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla	195 km (121 mi)		Mountain stage	Ben King (USA)
	3 September	Salamanca			Rest day
10	4 September	Salamanca to Fermoselle	172.5 km (107 mi)		Flat stage	Elia Viviani (ITA)
11	5 September	Mombuey to Ribeira Sacra/Luíntra	208.8 km (130 mi)		Intermediate stage	Alessandro De Marchi (ITA)
12	6 September	Mondoñedo to Punta de Estaca de Bares	177.5 km (110 mi)		Hilly stage	Alexandre Geniez (FRA)
13	7 September	Candás to La Camperona	175.5 km (109 mi)		Mountain stage	Óscar Rodríguez (ESP)
14	8 September	Cistierna to Les Praeres de Nava	167 km (104 mi)		Mountain stage	Simon Yates (GBR)
15	9 September	Ribera de Arriba to Lakes of Covadonga	185.5 km (115 mi)		Mountain stage	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)
	10 September	Santander			Rest day
16	11 September	Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega	32.7 km (20 mi)		Individual time trial	Rohan Dennis (AUS)
17	12 September	Getxo to Oiz	166.4 km (103 mi)		Intermediate stage	Michael Woods (CAN)
18	13 September	Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida	180.5 km (112 mi)		Flat stage	Jelle Wallays (BEL)
19	14 September	Lleida to Naturlandia (Andorra)	157 km (98 mi)		Mountain stage	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)
20	15 September	Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) to Coll de la Gallina (Andorra)	105.8 km (66 mi)		Mountain stage	Enric Mas (ESP)
21	16 September	Alcorcón to Madrid	112.3 km (70 mi)		Flat stage	Elia Viviani (ITA)
	Total		3,271.4 km (2,033 mi)

Classification leadership

The Vuelta a España had four individual classifications, for which jerseys were awarded daily to the leading rider, as well as a team competition. The primary classification was the general classification, which was calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage.^[8] Time bonuses were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the two individual time trials.^[9] The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the leader of the general classification,^[8] and wears the red jersey.^[10] The leader of the general classification at the end of the race was considered the overall winner of the Vuelta a España.^[8]

The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing among the highest placed in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stage. The points available for each stage finish were determined by the stage's type.^[8] The leader was identified by a green jersey.^[10]

Mountains classification points^[8]

Category	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Cima Alberto Fernández	20	15	10	6	4	2
Special-category	15	10	6	4	2
First-category	10	6	4	2	1
Second-category	5	3	1
Third-category	3	2	1

The next classification was the mountains classification. Points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit of the most difficult climbs first. The climbs were categorized, in order of increasing difficulty, third-, second-, and first- and special-category.^[11] The leader wore a white jersey with blue polka dots.^[10]

The final of the individual classifications was the combination classification. A rider's ranking in the combination classification was determined by tallying up his positions in the general, points, and mountains classifications. The leader wore a white jersey. If no rider was classified in all three classifications, riders classified in two would have been considered, and if that was tied the general classification will decide the winner.^[10]

There was also the team classification. After each stage, the times of the three highest finishers of each team are added together. The victory was awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative time at the end of the event.^[10]

In addition, there were two individual awards: the combativity award and the young rider award. The combativity award was given after each stage to the rider "who displayed the most generous effort and best sporting spirit." The daily winner wore a green number bib the following stage. At the end of the Vuelta, a jury decides the top three riders for the "Most Combative Rider of La Vuelta", with a public vote deciding the victor. The young rider award is calculated the same way as the general classification, but the classification was restricted to riders who were born on or after 1 January 1993. The leader wore a red number bib.^[10]

A total of €1,120,000 will be awarded in cash prizes in the race. The overall winner of the general classification will receive €150,335, with the second and third placed riders getting €57,000 and €30,000 respectively. All finishers in the top 20 were awarded with money. The holders of the four individual classifications benefited on each stage they led. The final winners of the points and combined were given €11,000, while the mountains classification got €23,100 and the most combative rider got €3,000. The team classification winners were given €12,500. €11,000 was given to the winners of each stage of the race, with smaller amounts given to places 2–20.^[12] There was also a special award with a prize of €1,000, the Cima Alberto Fernández, given to first rider to reach the summit of the highest mountain of the race.^[8][12][13]

Classification leadership by stage

Stage	Winner	General classification	Points classification	Mountains classification	Combination classification	Team classification	Combativity award	Young rider award
1	Rohan Dennis	Rohan Dennis	Rohan Dennis[a]	not awarded[a]	Rohan Dennis[a]	BMC Racing Team	not awarded	Benjamin Thomas
2	Alejandro Valverde	Michał Kwiatkowski	Michał Kwiatkowski[b]	Luis Ángel Maté	Michał Kwiatkowski[b]	Team Sky	Luis Ángel Maté	Laurens De Plus
3	Elia Viviani						Jordi Simón
4	Ben King					Astana	Luis Ángel Maté	Enric Mas
5	Simon Clarke	Rudy Molard			Alejandro Valverde		Bauke Mollema
6	Nacer Bouhanni				Michał Kwiatkowski[c]		Jorge Cubero[21]
7	Tony Gallopin		Alejandro Valverde		Alejandro Valverde[d]		Alex Aranburu
8	Alejandro Valverde						Jorge Cubero
9	Ben King	Simon Yates				LottoNL–Jumbo	Lluís Mas	Miguel Ángel López
10	Elia Viviani		Peter Sagan				Jesús Ezquerra
11	Alessandro De Marchi		Alejandro Valverde				Bauke Mollema
12	Alexandre Geniez	Jesús Herrada				Bahrain–Merida	Thomas De Gendt
13	Óscar Rodríguez						Gorka Izagirre
14	Simon Yates	Simon Yates					Michał Kwiatkowski
15	Thibaut Pinot						Bauke Mollema
16	Rohan Dennis					Movistar Team	not awarded	Enric Mas
17	Michael Woods			Thomas De Gendt			Omar Fraile
18	Jelle Wallays						Jetse Bol
19	Thibaut Pinot				Simon Yates[e]		Jonathan Castroviejo
20	Enric Mas						Jesús Herrada
21	Elia Viviani						not awarded
Final		Simon Yates	Alejandro Valverde	Thomas De Gendt	Simon Yates	Movistar Team	Bauke Mollema	Enric Mas

Final classification standings

Legend
	Denotes the leader of the general classification[10]		Denotes the leader of the points classification[10]
	Denotes the leader of the mountains classification[10]		Denotes the leader of the combination classification[10]
	Denotes the winner of the combativity award[10]		Denotes the winner of the young rider award[10]

General classification

Final general classification (1–10)^[26]

Rank	Rider	Team	Time
1	Simon Yates (GBR)	Mitchelton–Scott	82h 05' 58"
2	Enric Mas (ESP)	Quick-Step Floors	+ 1' 46"
3	Miguel Ángel López (COL)	Astana	+ 2' 04"
4	Steven Kruijswijk (NED)	LottoNL–Jumbo	+ 2' 54"
5	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	Movistar Team	+ 4' 28"
6	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)	Groupama–FDJ	+ 5' 57"
7	Rigoberto Urán (COL)	EF Education First–Drapac	+ 6' 07"
8	Nairo Quintana (COL)	Movistar Team	+ 6' 51"
9	Ion Izagirre (ESP)	Bahrain–Merida	+ 11' 09"
10	Wilco Kelderman (NED)	Team Sunweb	+ 11' 11"

Points classification

Final points classification (1–10)^[26]

Rank	Rider	Team	Points
1	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	Movistar Team	131
2	Peter Sagan (SVK)	Bora–Hansgrohe	119
3	Elia Viviani (ITA)	Quick-Step Floors	105
4	Simon Yates (GBR)	Mitchelton–Scott	104
5	Miguel Ángel López (COL)	Astana	103
6	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)	Groupama–FDJ	95
7	Dylan Teuns (BEL)	BMC Racing Team	93
8	Steven Kruijswijk (NED)	LottoNL–Jumbo	80
9	Danny van Poppel (NED)	LottoNL–Jumbo	80
10	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)	Trek–Segafredo	76

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10)^[26]

Rank	Rider	Team	Points
1	Thomas De Gendt (BEL)	Lotto–Soudal	95
2	Bauke Mollema (NED)	Trek–Segafredo	83
3	Luis Ángel Maté (ESP)	Cofidis	64
4	Ben King (USA)	Team Dimension Data	56
5	Miguel Ángel López (COL)	Astana	45
6	Simon Yates (GBR)	Mitchelton–Scott	38
7	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)	Groupama–FDJ	36
8	Pierre Rolland (FRA)	EF Education First–Drapac	31
9	Michael Woods (CAN)	EF Education First–Drapac	21
10	Michał Kwiatkowski (POL)	Team Sky	20

Combination classification

Final combination classification (1–10)^[26]

Rank	Rider	Team	Points
1	Simon Yates (GBR)	Mitchelton–Scott	11
2	Miguel Ángel López (COL)	Astana	13
3	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	Movistar Team	18
4	Thibaut Pinot (FRA)	Groupama–FDJ	19
5	Enric Mas (ESP)	Quick-Step Floors	24
6	Steven Kruijswijk (NED)	LottoNL–Jumbo	29
7	Ben King (USA)	Team Dimension Data	41
8	Rigoberto Urán (COL)	EF Education First–Drapac	45
9	Nairo Quintana (COL)	Movistar Team	47
10	Rafał Majka (POL)	Bora–Hansgrohe	47

Team classification

Final team classification (1–10)^[26]

Rank	Team	Time
1	Movistar Team	246h 50' 04"
2	Bahrain–Merida	+ 45' 36"
3	Bora–Hansgrohe	+ 47' 57"
4	Astana	+ 48' 10"
5	EF Education First–Drapac	+ 58' 49"
6	Mitchelton–Scott	+ 1h 27' 43"
7	Team Dimension Data	+ 1h 31' 01"
8	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 1h 37' 13"
9	Team Sky	+ 1h 47' 43"
10	Euskadi–Murias	+ 1h 47' 50"