The 68th edition of the Vuelta a Espana looks set to be a cracker, with two former winners among our top five contenders.
A debilitating parcours featuring eight high mountain stages, six medium mountain stages, and 11 summit finishes, as well as two tests against the clock, should separate the contenders from the pretenders.
We’ll be posting reports of each stage of the Spanish national tour, as well as daily galleries from official UCI WorldTour photogapher, Stefano Sirotti, and offering weekly analysis.
If you want to watch live televised coverage of the race, you can do so by following this guide to the broadcast schedules of British Eurosport and ITV4.
Stage one: Vilanova de Arousa to Sanxenxo – Saturday August 24, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 5.45pm to 8pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm
Stage two: Ponte Vedra to Monte de Groba – Sunday August 25, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 5pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm
Stage three: Vigo to Mirador de Lobeira – Monday August 26, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm
Stage four: Lalín to Finisterre – Tuesday August 27, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm
Stage five: Sober to Lago de Sanabria – Wednesday August 28, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm
Stage six: Guijuelo to Cáceres – Thursday August 29, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10.30pm to 11.30pm
Stage seven: Almendralejo to Mairena del Aljarafe – Friday August 30, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm
Stage eight: Jerez de la Frontera to Alto de Peñas Blancas – Saturday August 31, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm; 1.10am to 2.50am
Stage nine: Antequera to Valdepeñas de Jaén – Sunday September 1, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm; 1.10am to 2.05am
Stage 10: Torredelcampo to Alto de Haza Llana – Monday September 2, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 7pm to 8pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 1.50pm to 2.50pm
Stage 11: Tarazona – Wednesday September 4, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm; 2am to 2.50am
Stage 12: Maella to Tarragona – Thursday September 5, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm; 2am to 2.55am
Stage 13: Valls to Castelldefels – Friday September 6, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 10pm to 11pm; 2.05am to 3am
Stage 14: Bagà to Coll de la Gallina – Saturday September 7, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 11.45am to 12.45pm; 7pm to 8pm
Stage 15: Andorra to Peyragudes – Sunday September 8, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 8am to 9am; 7pm to 8pm
Stage 16: Graus to Formigal – Monday September 9, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm
Stage 17: Calahorra to Burgos – Wednesday September 11, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 7pm to 8pm
Stage 18: Burgos to Peña Cabarga – Thursday September 12, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 1.45pm to 2.50pm; 7pm to 8pm
Stage 19: San Vicente de la Barquera to Santa María del Naranco – Friday September 13, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 1.45pm to 2.45pm; 7pm to 8pm
Stage 20: Avilés to Alto del Angliru – Saturday September 14, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 8.50am to 9.50am; 7pm to 8pm
Stage 21: Leganés to Madrid – Sunday September 15, 2013
British Eurosport HD
LIVE – 3pm to 4.45pm
ITV4
HIGHLIGHTS – 8.45am to 9.45am; 7pm to 8pm