The most important information about the 18th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
- Thursday, 11 September: Valladolid - Valladolid
- Length: 27.2 kilometres (individual time trial)
- Altitude metres: 140
- Start first driver: 14:12
- Start last driver: 17:01
- TV broadcast: from 14:45 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 18th stage of the Tour of Spain 2025
The 18th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025 will be an individual time trial over 27.2 kilometres through the city of Valladolid and its surroundings. The race starts on Thursday, 11 September, at the foot of the Puente Mayor, a historic bridge over the river Pisuerga. After a short but challenging climb, which awaits the riders after just six kilometres, the rest of the route is predominantly flat. After the start at the Puente Mayor, the route first leads to the Estadio José Zorrilla, the home ground of Real Valladolid football club. The riders then cross the Parquesol district before crossing the river Pisuerga again and turning right towards the suburb of Pinar de Antequera. While the first part of the route is characterised by numerous bends, the section towards Pinar de Antequera is characterised by its straightness. The flat route with hardly any bends is tailor-made for thoroughbred time trial specialists. The same applies to the way back to Valladolid. The finish is on the Passeo Zorrilla, next to the Campo Grande, a large public park in the heart of the city. The combination of few technical passages and long straight sections makes this stage a real test of the riders' stamina.
Sporting assessment of the 18th stage of the Vuelta a España 2025
Former professional cyclist and current route designer of the Vuelta, Fernando Escartín, describes the stage as a "single time trial with only one small climb at the start. Time trial specialists could have an advantage over climbers, as it is a relatively uncomplicated route that runs mainly on wide roads."
This assessment emphasises the character of the stage as a classic time trial, in which performance data and aerodynamic efficiency will be decisive. The wide roads allow the riders to find a steady rhythm and distribute their power optimally - a skill in which the specialists are generally superior. For complete tour riders, who are strong both on the climbs and in the time trial, there is an opportunity to make up important seconds or extend their lead. As the stage only takes place on the third-to-last day of the tour, it could even be decisive for the overall victory. The riders will already have 17 stages under their belts at this point, which adds to the challenge and could further increase the differences in performance between the specialists and the less time trial-strong riders.
Leon Weidner
Working student
