Saturday 9 January 2016 15:14, UK
The 2016 Vuelta a Espana will contain 10 summit finishes, one individual time trial and one team time trial, organisers have revealed.
The Vuelta has developed a reputation as being the most mountainous of the three Grand Tours in recent seasons, but even by its own standards, the 2016 edition looks exceptionally difficult.
The number of summit finishes is an increase of two on both 2014 and 2015, and the riders will have to have to tackle a total of 51 climbs, which is an increase of seven on 2015.
Organisers have, however, compensated for the difficulty of the terrain by reducing the overall length of the race to 3,277km, which is 80km shorter than last year, 106km shorter than the 2016 Giro d'Italia and 242km shorter than the 2016 Tour de France. Only one stage is more than 200km long.
The team time trial comes on stage one, covering 29.4km of flat terrain from Laias to Castrelo de Mino, in Galicia, north-west Spain.
The individual time trial arrives on stage 19, covering 19km of flat road from Xabia to Calp, on the east coast.
The race starts on Saturday, August 20, and ends with a ceremonial sprint stage into Madrid on Sunday, September 11.
That is one of only four flat finishes on the route, meaning big-name sprinters, who have overlooked the Vuelta in recent seasons, are less likely than ever to attend.
Race director Javier Guillen said: "It will be difficult to beat the 2015 edition, but that is what we aspire to. I think the race will be decided in the time trial on the third last stage."
Five of the 10 summit finishes come in the opening week, with three following in the second week and two in the final week.
The most eye-catching of the summit finishes are the picturesque Lagos de Covadonga on stage 10 and stage 14's finale on the Col d'Aubisque, a Pyrenean climb usually used in the Tour de France.
Chris Froome liked two of the 21 stage profiles tweeted from the official Vuelta account on Saturday - stage 11 and 14 - suggesting that he was keeping a close eye on the route announcement.
Stage 1: Saturday, August 20 - Laias to Castrelo de Mino - 29.4km team time trial
Stage 2: Sunday, August 21 - Ourense to Baiona - 159km
Stage 3: Monday, August 22 - Marin to Mirador de Ezaro - 170km
Stage 4: Tuesday, August 23 - Betanzos to San Andres de Teixido - 161km
Stage 5: Wednesday, August 24 - Viveiro to Lugo - 170km
Stage 6: Thursday, August 25 - Monforte de Lemos to Luintra - 163 km
Stage 7: Friday, August 26 - Maceda to Puebla de Sanabria - 158,3 km
Stage 8: Saturday, August 27 - Villalpando to La Camperona - 177km
Stage 9: Sunday, August 28 - Cistierna to Oviedo/Alto Naranco - 165km
Stage 10: Monday, August 29 - Lugones to Lagos de Covadonga - 186.6km
Tuesday, August 30: First rest day
Stage 11: Wednesday, August 31 - Colunga to Pena Cabarga - 168.6km
Stage 12: Thursday, September 1 - Corrales de Buelna to Bilbao - 193.2km
Stage 13: Friday, September 2 - Bilbao to Urdax-Dantxarinea - 212.8km
Stage 14: Saturday, September 3 - Urdax Dantxarinea to Aubisque - 195.6km
Stage 15: Sunday, September 4 - Sabinanigo to Aramon Formigal - 120km
Stage 16: Monday, September 5 - Alcaniz to Peniscola - 158km
Tuesday, September 6: Second rest day
Stage 17: Wednesday, September 7 - Castellon to Llucena - 173,3 km
Stage 18: Thursday, September 8 - Requena to Gandia - 191km
Stage 19: Friday, September 9 - Xabia to Calpe - 39km individual time trial
Stage 20: Saturday, September 10 - Benidorm to Alto de Aitana - 184km
Stage 21: Sunday, September 11 - Las Rozas to Madrid - 102.5km
