Vuelta a España 2025: Preview stage 15: Race to catch up

The most important information about stage 15 of the Vuelta a España 2025

• Sunday, 7 September: A Veiga/Vegadeo - Monforte de Lemos
• Length: 167.8 kilometres (hilly)
• Altitude metres: 3287
• Sharp start: 13:12
• Arrival at the finish: ~17:17-17:47
• TV broadcast: from 15:15 Eurosport 1
• Live stream: Discovery Plus (fee required)
• All stages of the Vuelta a España 2025 at a glance
• The start list
• To the Vuelta live ticker

Route of the 15th stage of the Tour of Spain 2025

Immediately after the start in Vegadeo, the first challenge of the day awaits with the Puerto A Garganta. The 16.5 kilometre climb with an average gradient of 5.1 per cent is not extremely steep, but long enough to put a strain on the peloton. A short descent of just a few kilometres is followed by undulating terrain for around 20 kilometres before the second categorised climb of the day, the Alto de Barbeitos. This 11.9 kilometre long mountain with an average gradient of 3.9 per cent may not seem particularly scary at first glance, but its irregular profile makes it treacherous. The first five kilometres have gradients of between four and seven per cent, followed by a flat section before the last kilometre gets really steep again at eight per cent.

After crossing the Alto de Barbeitos, the riders follow roads with undulating terrain for around 45 kilometres, which lead into a descent to Castroverde. Just 33 kilometres before the finish, a 4.4-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 4.4 per cent awaits - the last significant climb of the day. After another descent, which begins four kilometres later, the last 20 kilometres are almost completely flat.

Sporting assessment of the 15th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025

Based on the profile and the experience of a very similar stage at the 2021 Tour of Spain, success from an escape group seems most likely. Punchy and versatile riders who are strong on hilly terrain as well as in sprints are likely to fancy their chances here. However, if the sprinters' teams are determined to bring their captains to the finish, the flat finale could also favour a reduced bunch sprint. However, a real chase would have to be launched. The decisive factor will be how intensively the first 60 kilometres are ridden and whether a strong breakaway group can form. For the overall favourites, this stage is likely to be more of an opportunity to save energy before heading back into the mountains in the following days. Nevertheless, they must remain vigilant, as the undulating terrain and possible crosswind situations in Galicia can always cause surprises.