The 2024 Tour of Spain will begin in Lisbon, next to the Belem Tower, and will consist of three stages in Portugal. The confirmation was made this Sunday by the President of the Metropolitan City Council, Carlos Moedas, in a video published RTP.
This is the fourth time the race has started outside of Spain and the second time it has started in Portugal. The first was in 1997, when the competition was also held in the capital of Portugal.
“Dear Spanish friends, dear Madrilenians and dear friend, Mayor of Madrid José Luis Almeida, it is with great pleasure that I am here because the Vuelta in 2024 will begin here in Lisbon, here in the Belém Tower, this historical symbol of the 16th century,” Moedas said in Castilian.
In cycling, national races are usually held on foreign soil. This year the Tour de France started in Spain, in the Basque Country. The last Giro d’Italia also passed through Switzerland.
“This is the world’s biggest cycling event featuring today’s heroes. And this is symbolic because this is also the relationship that we are building with Madrid, a relationship in which we can do much more together. I hope to see you here in the beautiful city of Lisbon. I am very glad that the Vuelta will take place here,” concluded the mayor of Lisbon.
The announcement was made on the day the Tour of Spain ended. This year, seven Portuguese took part in the event: Joao Almeida, Rui Costa, Ruben Guerreiro, Nelson Oliveira, Andre Carvalho and twins Rui and Ivo Oliveira.
Emirates’ Joao Almeida is the highest-rated Portuguese player. The last stage starts ninth.