Castile and León presents its austere Vuelta of just two stages

Valladolid Diary

The Vuelta a Castilla y León debuts in Valladolid with just two stages, with Soria and Segovia as the main protagonists / 19 teams will take part in the tour, with Ayuso as the star.

Last year, at the finish line, it was hinted that the Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León would once again have one more stage, three. Words, just words. Far from what it once was and what it once was, with up to five stages underway, the 37th edition of the Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Castilla y León took off yesterday morning, sponsored by the Regional Government of Castilla y León, which has injected more than 175,000 euros, at the Miguel Delibes Center. Once again, the race was austere, with only two stages, each featuring two provinces: Soria and Segovia.

On July 26 and 27, the Vuelta a Castilla y León will cover a total of 355.1 km through the provinces of Soria and Segovia. Nineteen teams will participate, both Spanish and from other countries, including France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Israel, Kazakhstan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, and Australia. Of these 19 teams, nine are participating in the Tour de France.

The Castilla y León Cycling Tour is a prominent ambassador for the heritage of the region's provinces, according to Minister Santonja. "The Castilla y León Cycling Tour is a perfect showcase for all of these elements."

For his part, the general director of the Vuelta, former cyclist Iaele Cubino, expressed his gratitude for the support of the Junta for "preventing the race from dying," as has happened elsewhere.

The first stage, on Wednesday, July 26, will cover 168.9 km, starting in Numancia, a site of great archaeological importance. The finish line will be in Soria, a historic city with equally exceptional architectural treasures, such as the Church of San Juan and the Hermitage of San Saturio.

The second stage will take place on Thursday, July 27, covering 186.2 km, between the Segovian town of Coca—home to the prehistoric remains of the Cinco Caños, as well as its majestic Gothic-Mudejar castle—and the monumental city of Segovia, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.