The Vuelta a España is an annual multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, the race was first organised in 1935. The race was prevented from being run by the Spanish Civil War and World War II in the early years of its existence; however, the race has been held annually since 1955. As the Vuelta gained prestige and popularity the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend all around the globe. Since 1979, the event has been staged and managed by Unipublic, until in 2014, when the Amaury Sport Organisation acquired control. Since then, they have been working together. The peloton expanded from a primarily Spanish participation to include riders from all over the world. The Vuelta is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI WorldTeams, with the exception of the wild card teams that the organizers can invite.
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002.
The Volta a Catalunya is a road bicycle race held annually in Catalonia, Spain.
Vladimir Alexandrovich Karpets is a Russian road bicycle racer, who last rode for UCI ProTeam Movistar Team. Karpets is most notable for winning the white jersey for best young rider in the 2004 Tour de France and his victories in the overall classifications of the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Suisse, both in 2007. Karpets is also a two-time Olympian.
Janez "Jani" Brajkovič is a racing cyclist from Metlika, Slovenia, who most recently rode for UCI Continental team Adria Mobil. He was the world under-23 Time Trial champion in 2004.
Thomas Löfkvist is a Swedish former professional road bicycle racer who last rode for the UCI Professional Continental team IAM Cycling. Since 2015 Thomas Löfkvist is general manager of Swedish professional cycling team Team Tre Berg–PostNord. He became the youngest Swedish professional road bicycle racer when he started his professional bicycling career in FDJeux.com at the age of 19 in 2004. Löfkvist was a good time trialist with solid climbing abilities, winning the Monte Paschi Eroica in 2009 with a powerful attack during the steep final kilometer ascent. He has previously used, both within and outside of the cycling world, the surname spelling 'Lövkvist'. Beginning with the cycling season of 2010 he is using his legal surname Löfkvist throughout.
The red jersey is a cycling jersey, given to the leader of several classifications.
Rigoberto Urán Urán, ODB is a Colombian professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost. During his professional career, Urán has taken fifteen victories, including stage wins at each of the three Grand Tours, and won a silver medal in the road race at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional cyclist, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jumbo–Visma. His major victories include the 2012 Tour of California, the 2011 Tour of Oman and the 2010 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. Gesink also won the Giro dell'Emilia twice and offered some good performances on Grand Tours and one-week stage races, thanks in part to his climbing and time trialing abilities.
Thomas De Gendt is a Belgian professional road racing cyclist, who rides for UCI ProTeam Lotto–Dstny.
Steven Kruijswijk is a Dutch road bicycle racer, who rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jumbo–Visma. Kruijswijk is best known for his strong ability in the mountains where he has taken his greatest success; he has taken two professional victories during his career – a stage win at the 2011 Tour de Suisse, and the general classification at the 2014 Arctic Race of Norway.
Tejay van Garderen is an American former professional road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2008 and 2021 for the Rabobank Continental Team, HTC–Highroad, BMC Racing Team and EF Education–Nippo. Following his retirement as a cyclist, van Garderen became a directeur sportif for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost.
The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The bicycle race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence from the region was due to fear of political protests.
Michael James Matthews is an Australian professional road and track cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jayco–AlUla.
Nairo Alexánder Quintana Rojas, ODB, is a Colombian racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI ProTeam Arkéa–Samsic.
Adam Richard Yates is a British professional road and track racing cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates. Yates placed fourth overall at the 2016 Tour de France and became the first British rider to win the young rider classification, one year ahead of his twin brother Simon Yates.
Miguel Ángel López Moreno is a Colombian cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Team Medellín–EPM.
Marc Soler Giménez is a Spanish cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates.
Enric Mas Nicolau is a Spanish racing cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam Movistar Team. He is a climber, and has finished in top 10 in world tour stage races, and has also won a stage at the Tour of the Basque Country.
Sergio Andrés Higuita García is a Colombian professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Bora–Hansgrohe.
