La Vuelta 2024:- Stage 21: Distrito Telefónica – Madrid, 24.6km ITT ***Spoilers***

Stage 21: Distrito Telefónica – Madrid, 24.6km ITT

Sunday 8th September

Start Time: First rider 15-20BST, Last rider 18-00BST. (approx)

The final stage of the Vuelta a España is an ITT in front of roaring city crowds. Not the tried-and-tested finishing circuit in Madrid, but a chronorace of 24.6 kilometres in the centre of Spain. It's almost 25 km without any significant technical difficulties that will allow the specialists to test their all-rounder capabilities. If the general classification remains close at this point, these final 22 km will be full of excitement up until the very end.

Profile.

Map.

Final Kilometres.

What to Expect.

Probably some changes in the top 10, but much will depend on the gaps achieved in the first 20 stages.

Madrid

Madrid has already hosted 77 La Vuelta finish-lines.

3,280,782 inhabitants

Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry. Madrid’s ‘Landscape of Light’ will reveal the final stage winner of the edition and will serve to crown the winners of the race’s general classifications. As a new feature in 2024, besides having an individual time trial as the final stage, the finish-line will be located on the Gran Vía in front of the Edificio Telefónica, to celebrate 100 years since its foundation.

Torrijas

Torrijas is a Spanish version of the classic French toast, consisting of slices of leftover bread that are first soaked in milk, dipped in beaten eggs, and then fried in hot olive oil, unlike French toast, which is dipped in a mixture of eggs and milk. In the past, torrijas was often served to new mothers and wounded soldiers, since it provides a significant boost of energy.

Huevos rotos

The simple and inexpensive huevos rotos (lit. broken eggs, also known as huevos estrellados) is a Spanish dish that is a specialty of Madrid. It consists of eggs fried in olive oil, which are then placed over french fries. The dish is traditionally topped with chorizo pieces, seafood, or slices of Iberian ham. The eggs should be cut so that the yolk drizzles down over the french fries, which are used to soak up the yolk.