The 2019 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain, Andorra and France between 24 August and 15 September 2019. The race was the 74th edition of the Vuelta a España and is the final Grand Tour of the 2019 cycling season. The race started with a team time trial in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.

The race was won by Primož Roglič of , making him the first Slovenian rider to win a Grand Tour. Rounding out the podium were Alejandro Valverde of in second and Roglič's compatriot Tadej Pogačar of in third.

Along with the overall, Roglič also took the points classification. Geoffrey Bouchard of won the mountains classification, while Pogačar was the best young rider. Miguel Ángel López of was named the overall most combative, and Movistar Team won the team classification.

Teams

The 18 UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race. In addition, four Professional Continental teams obtained a wildcard, bringing the number of teams to 22.

The teams that entered the race were:

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

Pre-race favourites The winner of the 2018 Vuelta a España, Simon Yates, had decided to not defend his title after riding in the 2019 Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Steven Kruijswijk, Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma), Miguel Ángel López, Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) were considered among the pre-race favourites. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) were considered as potential stage winners and points classification contenders. Kruijswijk climbed on the podium of the 2019 Tour de France, while his team partner Roglič got third at the 2019 Giro d'Italia. López was on the podium on both the 2018 Giro d'Italia and the 2018 Vuelta a España.

There were three previous winners among the participating cyclists: Alejandro Valverde (2009), Fabio Aru (2015) and Nairo Quintana (2016). Valverde (Movistar Team) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) also attempted to defend their points and mountain classification titles.

Route +Stage characteristics and winners Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner 1 24 August Salinas de Torrevieja to Torrevieja Team time trial 2 25 August Benidorm to Calpe Hilly stage 3 26 August Ibi to Alicante Flat stage 4 27 August Cullera to El Puig Flat stage 5 28 August L'Eliana to Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre Hilly stage 6 29 August Mora de Rubielos to Ares del Maestrat Hilly stage 7 30 August Onda to Mas de la Costa Mountain stage 8 31 August Valls to Igualada Hilly stage 9 1 September Andorra la Vella (Andorra) to Cortals d'Encamp (Andorra) Mountain stage 2 September Andorra Rest day 10 3 September Jurançon (France) to Pau (France) Individual time trial 11 4 September Saint-Palais (France) to Urdax Hilly stage 12 5 September Circuito de Navarra to Bilbao Hilly stage 13 6 September Bilbao to Los Machucos Mountain stage 14 7 September San Vicente de la Barquera to Oviedo Flat stage 15 8 September Tineo to Santuario del Acebo Mountain stage 16 9 September Pravia to Mountain stage 10 September León Rest day 17 11 September Aranda de Duero to Guadalajara Flat stage 18 12 September Colmenar Viejo to Becerril de la Sierra Mountain stage 19 13 September Ávila to Toledo Flat stage 20 14 September Arenas de San Pedro to Mountain stage 21 15 September Fuenlabrada to Madrid Flat stage Total

Race overview

Classification leadership

The Vuelta a España has four individual classifications, for which jerseys were awarded daily to the leading rider, as well as a team competition. The primary classification is the general classification, which is calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the team time trial (stage 1) and individual time trial (stage 10). The rider with the lowest cumulative time is the leader of the general classification, and wears the red jersey. The leader of the general classification at the end of the race is considered the overall winner of the Vuelta a España.

The second classification is the points classification. Riders receive points for finishing among the highest placed in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stages. The points available for each stage finish are determined by the stage's type. The leader is 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 is the mountains classification. Points are awarded to the riders that reach the summit of the most difficult climbs first. The climbs are categorized, in order of increasing difficulty, third-, second-, and first- and special-category. The leader wears white jersey with blue polka dots.

The final of the individual classifications is the young rider classification, which is calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage for each rider born on or after 1 January 1994. The rider with the lowest cumulative time is the leader of the young rider classification, and wears the white jersey.

There is also the team classification. After each stage, the times of the three highest finishers of each team are added together. The victory is awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative time at the end of the event.

In addition, there is one individual award: the combativity award. This award is given after each stage (excluding the team time trial and individual time trial) to the rider "who displayed the most generous effort and best sporting spirit." The daily winner wears 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.

+Classification leadership by stage Stage Winner General classification Points classification Mountains classification Young rider classification Team classification Combativity award 1 Miguel Ángel López not awarded not awarded Miguel Ángel López Miguel Ángel López 2 Nairo Quintana Nicolas Roche Nairo Quintana Ángel Madrazo Ángel Madrazo 3 Sam Bennett Ángel Madrazo 4 Fabio Jakobsen Sam Bennett Jorge Cubero 5 Ángel Madrazo Miguel Ángel López José Herrada 6 Jesús Herrada Dylan Teuns Jesús Herrada 7 Alejandro Valverde Miguel Ángel López Nairo Quintana Sergio Henao 8 Nikias Arndt Nicolas Edet David de la Cruz 9 Tadej Pogačar Nairo Quintana Geoffrey Bouchard 10 Primož Roglič Primož Roglič Primož Roglič Primož Roglič 11 Mikel Iturria Alex Aranburu 12 Philippe Gilbert Philippe Gilbert 13 Tadej Pogačar Tadej Pogačar Héctor Sáez 14 Sam Bennett Diego Rubio 15 Sepp Kuss Sergio Samitier 16 Jakob Fuglsang Geoffrey Bouchard Ángel Madrazo 17 Philippe Gilbert Nairo Quintana 18 Sergio Higuita Miguel Ángel López Sergio Higuita 19 Rémi Cavagna Rémi Cavagna 20 Tadej Pogačar Tadej Pogačar Tao Geoghegan Hart 21 Fabio Jakobsen not awarded Final Primož Roglič Primož Roglič Geoffrey Bouchard Tadej Pogačar Miguel Ángel López

On stage two, Dario Cataldo and Jakob Fuglsang, who were second in the general classification, wore the green jersey and white with blue polka-dot jersey respectively, although no points were awarded during the opening team time trial stage for either ranking. On stage two, James Knox, who was second in the young rider classification, wore the white jersey, because first placed Miguel Ángel López wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification. On stages six and eight, Tadej Pogačar wore the white jersey for the same reason. On stage ten, Primož Roglič, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Nairo Quintana wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification. On stages eleven, twelve, and thirteen, Nairo Quintana, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification. On stage nineteen, Tadej Pogačar wore the green jersey for the same reason. On stages fourteen and fifteen, Nairo Quintana, who was third in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification, and second placed Tadej Pogačar wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification. On stages sixteen and seventeen, Nairo Quintana, who was fourth in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification, second placed Tadej Pogačar wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification, and third placed Alejandro Valverde wore the World Champion jersey. On stage eighteen, Nairo Quintana, who was fourth in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification, second placed Sam Bennett wore the Irish National Road Race Champion jersey, and third placed Tadej Pogačar wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification. On stage nineteen, Tadej Pogačar, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification. On stage twenty, Tadej Pogačar, who was fourth in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification, second placed Sam Bennett wore the Irish National Road Race Champion jersey, and third placed Alejandro Valverde wore the World Champion jersey. On stage twenty-one, Nairo Quintana, who was fifth in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Primož Roglič wore the red jersey as leader of the general classification, second placed Tadej Pogačar wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification, third placed Alejandro Valverde wore the World Champion jersey, and fourth placed Sam Bennett wore the Irish National Road Race Champion jersey.

Final classification standings

Legend Denotes the winner of the general classification Denotes the winner of the points classification Denotes the winner of the mountains classification Denotes the winner of the young rider classification Denotes the winner of the team classification Denotes the winner of the combativity award

General classification

+ Final general classification (1–10) Rank Rider Team Time 1 2 + 2' 33" 3 + 2' 55" 4 + 3' 46" 5 + 4' 48" 6 + 7' 33" 7 + 10' 04" 8 + 12' 54" 9 + 22' 27" 10 + 22' 34"