# 2018 Vuelta a España

The 2018 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain between 25 August and 16 September 2018. The race was the 73rd edition of the Vuelta a España and was the final Grand Tour of the 2018 cycling season. The race started in Málaga and finished in Madrid.
The race was won by British rider Simon Yates from the team Mitchelton–Scott.

## Teams

The starting teams include:
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R La Mondiale
* Astana
* Bahrain–Merida
* BMC Racing Team
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* Team Dimension Data
* EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale
* Team Katusha–Alpecin
* Lotto–Soudal
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Mitchelton–Scott
* Movistar Team
* Quick-Step Floors
* Team Sky
* Team Sunweb
* Trek–Segafredo
* UAE Team Emirates
* Groupama–FDJ
Professional Continental teams
* Burgos BH
* Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
* Cofidis
* Euskadi–Murias

## Pre-race favourites

Four former winners started the race; Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde (both from Movistar Team), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain–Merida) and Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates). The other riders considered contenders for the general classification were Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team), Simon Yates (Mitchelton–Scott), Miguel Ángel López (Astana), Michał Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb), Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL–Jumbo), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama–FDJ) and Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale).

## Route and stages

List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 25 August | Málaga | 8 km (5 mi) | | Individual time trial | Rohan Dennis (AUS) |
| 2 | 26 August | Marbella to Caminito del Rey | 163.9 km (102 mi) | | Hilly stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 3 | 27 August | Mijas to Alhaurín de la Torre | 182.5 km (113 mi) | | Hilly stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| 4 | 28 August | Vélez-Málaga to Alfacar | 162 km (101 mi) | | Mountain stage | Ben King (USA) |
| 5 | 29 August | Granada to Roquetas de Mar | 188 km (117 mi) | | Intermediate stage | Simon Clarke (AUS) |
| 6 | 30 August | Huércal-Overa to San Javier | 153 km (95 mi) | | Flat stage | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 7 | 31 August | Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcón | 182 km (113 mi) | | Hilly stage | Tony Gallopin (FRA) |
| 8 | 1 September | Linares to Almadén | 195.5 km (121 mi) | | Hilly stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 9 | 2 September | Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla | 195 km (121 mi) | | Mountain stage | Ben King (USA) |
| | 3 September | Salamanca | Salamanca | | Rest day | Rest day |
| 10 | 4 September | Salamanca to Fermoselle | 172.5 km (107 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| 11 | 5 September | Mombuey to Ribeira Sacra/Luíntra | 208.8 km (130 mi) | | Intermediate stage | Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) |
| 12 | 6 September | Mondoñedo to Punta de Estaca de Bares | 177.5 km (110 mi) | | Hilly stage | Alexandre Geniez (FRA) |
| 13 | 7 September | Candás to La Camperona | 175.5 km (109 mi) | | Mountain stage | Óscar Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 14 | 8 September | Cistierna to Les Praeres de Nava | 167 km (104 mi) | | Mountain stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |
| 15 | 9 September | Ribera de Arriba to Lakes of Covadonga | 185.5 km (115 mi) | | Mountain stage | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) |
| | 10 September | Santander | Santander | | Rest day | Rest day |
| 16 | 11 September | Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega | 32.7 km (20 mi) | | Individual time trial | Rohan Dennis (AUS) |
| 17 | 12 September | Getxo to Oiz | 166.4 km (103 mi) | | Intermediate stage | Michael Woods (CAN) |
| 18 | 13 September | Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida | 180.5 km (112 mi) | | Flat stage | Jelle Wallays (BEL) |
| 19 | 14 September | Lleida to Naturlandia (Andorra) | 157 km (98 mi) | | Mountain stage | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) |
| 20 | 15 September | Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) to Coll de la Gallina (Andorra) | 105.8 km (66 mi) | | Mountain stage | Enric Mas (ESP) |
| 21 | 16 September | Alcorcón to Madrid | 112.3 km (70 mi) | | Flat stage | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,271.4 km (2,033 mi) | 3,271.4 km (2,033 mi) | 3,271.4 km (2,033 mi) | 3,271.4 km (2,033 mi) | 3,271.4 km (2,033 mi) |

## Classification leadership

The Vuelta a España had four individual classifications, for which jerseys were awarded daily to the leading rider, as well as a team competition. The primary classification was the general classification, which was calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the two individual time trials. The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the leader of the general classification, and wears the red jersey. The leader of the general classification at the end of the race was considered the overall winner of the Vuelta a España.
The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing among the highest placed in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stage. The points available for each stage finish were determined by the stage's type. The leader was identified by a green jersey.
Mountains classification points :
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| Cima Alberto Fernández | 20 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Special-category | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| First-category | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Second-category | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Third-category | 3 | 2 | 1 |
The next classification was the mountains classification. Points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit of the most difficult climbs first. The climbs were categorized, in order of increasing difficulty, third-, second-, and first- and special-category. The leader wore a white jersey with blue polka dots.
The final of the individual classifications was the combination classification. A rider's ranking in the combination classification was determined by tallying up his positions in the general, points, and mountains classifications. The leader wore a white jersey. If no rider was classified in all three classifications, riders classified in two would have been considered, and if that was tied the general classification will decide the winner.
There was also the team classification. After each stage, the times of the three highest finishers of each team are added together. The victory was awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative time at the end of the event.
In addition, there were two individual awards: the combativity award and the young rider award. The combativity award was given after each stage to the rider "who displayed the most generous effort and best sporting spirit." The daily winner wore a green number bib the following stage. At the end of the Vuelta, a jury decides the top three riders for the "Most Combative Rider of La Vuelta", with a public vote deciding the victor. The young rider award is calculated the same way as the general classification, but the classification was restricted to riders who were born on or after 1 January 1993. The leader wore a red number bib.
A total of €1,120,000 will be awarded in cash prizes in the race. The overall winner of the general classification will receive €150,335, with the second and third placed riders getting €57,000 and €30,000 respectively. All finishers in the top 20 were awarded with money. The holders of the four individual classifications benefited on each stage they led. The final winners of the points and combined were given €11,000, while the mountains classification got €23,100 and the most combative rider got €3,000. The team classification winners were given €12,500. €11,000 was given to the winners of each stage of the race, with smaller amounts given to places 2–20. There was also a special award with a prize of €1,000, the Cima Alberto Fernández, given to first rider to reach the summit of the highest mountain of the race.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Combination classification | Team classification | Combativity award | Young rider award |
| 1 | Rohan Dennis | Rohan Dennis | Rohan Dennis | not awarded | Rohan Dennis | BMC Racing Team | not awarded | Benjamin Thomas |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Michał Kwiatkowski | Michał Kwiatkowski | Luis Ángel Maté | Michał Kwiatkowski | Team Sky | Luis Ángel Maté | Laurens De Plus |
| 3 | Elia Viviani | Michał Kwiatkowski | Michał Kwiatkowski | Luis Ángel Maté | Michał Kwiatkowski | Team Sky | Jordi Simón | Laurens De Plus |
| 4 | Ben King | Michał Kwiatkowski | Michał Kwiatkowski | Luis Ángel Maté | Michał Kwiatkowski | Astana | Luis Ángel Maté | Enric Mas |
| 5 | Simon Clarke | Rudy Molard | Michał Kwiatkowski | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Astana | Bauke Mollema | Enric Mas |
| 6 | Nacer Bouhanni | Rudy Molard | Michał Kwiatkowski | Luis Ángel Maté | Michał Kwiatkowski | Astana | Jorge Cubero | Enric Mas |
| 7 | Tony Gallopin | Rudy Molard | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Astana | Alex Aranburu | Enric Mas |
| 8 | Alejandro Valverde | Rudy Molard | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Astana | Jorge Cubero | Enric Mas |
| 9 | Ben King | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | LottoNL–Jumbo | Lluís Mas | Miguel Ángel López |
| 10 | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Peter Sagan | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | LottoNL–Jumbo | Jesús Ezquerra | Miguel Ángel López |
| 11 | Alessandro De Marchi | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | LottoNL–Jumbo | Bauke Mollema | Miguel Ángel López |
| 12 | Alexandre Geniez | Jesús Herrada | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Bahrain–Merida | Thomas De Gendt | Miguel Ángel López |
| 13 | Óscar Rodríguez | Jesús Herrada | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Bahrain–Merida | Gorka Izagirre | Miguel Ángel López |
| 14 | Simon Yates | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Bahrain–Merida | Michał Kwiatkowski | Miguel Ángel López |
| 15 | Thibaut Pinot | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Bahrain–Merida | Bauke Mollema | Miguel Ángel López |
| 16 | Rohan Dennis | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Luis Ángel Maté | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | not awarded | Enric Mas |
| 17 | Michael Woods | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | Omar Fraile | Enric Mas |
| 18 | Jelle Wallays | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | Jetse Bol | Enric Mas |
| 19 | Thibaut Pinot | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Simon Yates | Movistar Team | Jonathan Castroviejo | Enric Mas |
| 20 | Enric Mas | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Simon Yates | Movistar Team | Jesús Herrada | Enric Mas |
| 21 | Elia Viviani | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Simon Yates | Movistar Team | not awarded | Enric Mas |
| Final | Final | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Thomas De Gendt | Simon Yates | Movistar Team | Bauke Mollema | Enric Mas |

## Final classification standings

Legend :
| Denotes the leader of the general classification | Denotes the leader of the points classification |
| Denotes the leader of the mountains classification | Denotes the leader of the combination classification |
| Denotes the winner of the combativity award | Denotes the winner of the young rider award |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 82h 05' 58" |
| 2 | Enric Mas (ESP) | Quick-Step Floors | + 1' 46" |
| 3 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | + 2' 04" |
| 4 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 2' 54" |
| 5 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 4' 28" |
| 6 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 5' 57" |
| 7 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac | + 6' 07" |
| 8 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 6' 51" |
| 9 | Ion Izagirre (ESP) | Bahrain–Merida | + 11' 09" |
| 10 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | Team Sunweb | + 11' 11" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 131 |
| 2 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 119 |
| 3 | Elia Viviani (ITA) | Quick-Step Floors | 105 |
| 4 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 104 |
| 5 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | 103 |
| 6 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | 95 |
| 7 | Dylan Teuns (BEL) | BMC Racing Team | 93 |
| 8 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 80 |
| 9 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 80 |
| 10 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | 76 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 95 |
| 2 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Trek–Segafredo | 83 |
| 3 | Luis Ángel Maté (ESP) | Cofidis | 64 |
| 4 | Ben King (USA) | Team Dimension Data | 56 |
| 5 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | 45 |
| 6 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 38 |
| 7 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | 36 |
| 8 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | EF Education First–Drapac | 31 |
| 9 | Michael Woods (CAN) | EF Education First–Drapac | 21 |
| 10 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Team Sky | 20 |

### Combination classification

Final combination classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 11 |
| 2 | Miguel Ángel López (COL) | Astana | 13 |
| 3 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 18 |
| 4 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | 19 |
| 5 | Enric Mas (ESP) | Quick-Step Floors | 24 |
| 6 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 29 |
| 7 | Ben King (USA) | Team Dimension Data | 41 |
| 8 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac | 45 |
| 9 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 47 |
| 10 | Rafał Majka (POL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 47 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Movistar Team | 246h 50' 04" |
| 2 | Bahrain–Merida | + 45' 36" |
| 3 | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 47' 57" |
| 4 | Astana | + 48' 10" |
| 5 | EF Education First–Drapac | + 58' 49" |
| 6 | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1h 27' 43" |
| 7 | Team Dimension Data | + 1h 31' 01" |
| 8 | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1h 37' 13" |
| 9 | Team Sky | + 1h 47' 43" |
| 10 | Euskadi–Murias | + 1h 47' 50" |