Will it be 3rd time lucky for Chris Froome at the Vuelta? (Getty)
Arguably the most physically demanding of the three Grand Tours, combining brutally steep climbs with searing heat and the lion’s share of a season’s racing already in the legs, the 2015 Vuelta a Espana rolls out of Puerto Banus this Saturday before meandering its way across the Spanish countryside, arriving in Madrid three weeks later.
The 2015 edition of the race boasts a star-studded GC line-up, with all three Tour de France podium finishers – Chris Froome (Team Sky), Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) – in attendance. Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and Vincenzo Nibali will also take to the start line, each looking to make amends for disappointing rides in the Grande Boucle.
As has been tradition in recent Vueltas, the race starts with a Team Time Trial along the Spanish coast on Saturday, while Sunday’s stage from Alhaurín de la Torre to Caminito del Rey has a nasty uphill finish that could provide a first opportunity for both the puncheurs to grab a stage win and the GC contenders to test their legs.
In the UK, British Eurosport has live television coverage of Saturday’s Team Time Trial from 5:45pm BST and Sunday’s Stage 2 from 3pm BST. ITV4 will show highlights of every day’s racing at 7pm BST, with the exception of Saturday’s TTT, which will be shown at 10pm BST.
In the US, Universal Sports Network has live coverage of Saturday’s TTT from 1pm Eastern and coverage of each stage thereafter from 10am Eastern, starting with Sunday’s Stage 2.
If you can’t get in front of a television this weekend, here’s how to watch live streaming and highlights of the the 2015 Vuelta a Espana online and on mobile.
Watch 2015 Vuelta a Espana Online
Nairo Quintana will be looking to to best Chris Froome for the first time in a Grand Tour. (Getty)
In the UK and Europe, viewers with a Eurosport Player subscription will be able to watch a live online stream on the Eurosport website. Viewers in the UK can also watch extended highlights of each day’s racing for free via the ITV Player site.
US viewers with access to a cable or satellite subscription — either yours or someone else’s — can watch the race online via the Universal Sports Network website. You’ll need a cable or satellite log-in and password to access the stream.
Also check out procyclinglive.com, where free live streams of the race are scheduled to be posted.
Watch 2015 Vuelta a Espana on Mobile
Tejay van Garderen will be looking to make amends for a deeply disappointing Tour (Getty)
Mobile and table users across the UK and Europe can watch every stage via the Eurosport Player App, which you can download in the App Store or the Google Play store. Again, you’ll need a subscription to watch.
Mobile and tablet users in the UK can also watch comprehensive highlights of every stage for free via the ITV Player app, which you can download via the App Store or Google Play store.
Mobile users in the US can watch the race via the Universal Sports Network App, which you can download in the App Store or via Google Play. As is the case with the desktop livestream, you’ll need a cable provider log-in to watch.