A series of "demanding mountain stages will once again dominate the Vuelta a España," in a '16 route unveiled by organizers Saturday in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, according to the AFP. A total of 10 mountaintop finishes will make this a race for the climbers, "though there is some encouragement for time trialists, with a team TT kicking things off in Ourense and a 39-kilometer individual time trial just two days before the final stage in Madrid." Most of the "climber-friendly" days come in the first two weeks of the race, which crosses the north of the country, starting by the Atlantic Ocean in Galicia before moving through the Basque country and, finally, into the Pyrenees. Race Dir Javier Guillen said, "I think the race will be decided in the time trial on the third last stage." However, Guillen "might not be able to call up on an all-star cast as in recent years due to the Rio Olympics, which fall between the Tour de France and the start of the Vuelta." Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) has committed to the race, but other GC cyclists like Aru, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), Chris Foome (Sky) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) "have not" (AFP, 1/9).
