La Vuelta 2022: How to watch Stage 1 on Friday, TV and live stream details, timings and route map

ByBen Snowball

Published 18/08/2022 at 09:34 GMT

What’s that? It’s time for the final Grand Tour of 2022? Yes please. La Vuelta kicks off on Friday with the unpredictable team time trial – an event that spelled disaster for Jumbo-Visma when it was last included in 2019. Primoz Roglic again starts as favourite but he will be hoping to not have an early hiccup as he and his seven team-mates tackle the 23.3km voyage around Utrecht.

Welcome to La Vuelta! And a warm welcome back to the much-loved team time trial!

Admittedly, the parcours is not the most exciting way to start a Grand Tour - a 23.3km run around Utrecht that breathes new life to the phrase "pan-flat". Then again, we're in sea level-loving Netherlands for the opening three stages, so we can't be too disappointed about the lack of climbing.

But the team time trial is all about the unexpected. Remember when half the Jumbo-Visma team was wiped out in a crash in 2019 after someone left a hose out? As a result they finished 18th out of 22 teams, and left leader Primoz Roglic with 40 seconds to make up on Miguel Angel Lopez. Spoiler: he managed it, and then some.

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Ahead of launch day in Spain, we have a delightful selection of preview content for you to dive into.

Keen to find out a little bit about each of the 21 stages, including the route profiles? Why, step right over here.

Desperate to know the key dates and stages in the battle for the red jersey - i.e. where La Vuelta 2022 will be won and lost? We've got you covered here.

Only interested in the big names descending on Spain? Here's our rundown of the GC contenders.

Or are you simply hoping to see a full startlist, complete with a blurb on each team? Don't fret, here's our bumper team guide.

HOW CAN I WATCH LA VUELTA ON TV AND LIVESTREAM?

Each and every stage will be broadcast on Eurosport and GCN+, bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui.

Adam Blythe and Dan Lloyd will also be in the studio, while Laura Meseguer will be on site speaking to the people that matter.

WHEN IS STAGE 1?

Tune in from 17:15 - 20:15 BST on Friday August 18 to watch Stage 1 of La Vuelta.

Watch the action on Eurosport 1, with uninterrupted coverage on discovery+

STAGE 1 PROFILE AND ROUTE MAP

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Stream La Vuelta live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.

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