Vuelta a España

The Vuelta a España is the most explosive of the three Grand Tours, built on short, savage mountain finishes that turn the race upside down almost daily. First run in 1935 and held in late-summer heat, it favours attackers and punchy climbers over time-trial machines. The red jersey has been decided on slopes like the Angliru, the Lagos de Covadonga and the Bola del Mundo, climbs so steep they barely belong on a bike. Roberto Heras holds the record with four overall wins, and the modern race has crowned Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and Primož Roglič among others. Because the climbs come thick and the gaps stay small, the Vuelta stays alive until its final mountain. It is the Grand Tour most likely to be won by a rider who simply dares to attack.