Spanish Daily newspaper AS has reported that the 2016 Vuelta a Espana, whose route will be officially presented in early January, will have ten summit finishes. There were nine summit finishes in the 2015 race. The race also wants to be more rider-friendly, as there will be fewer hills to climb overall despite the increase in climbs to the finish. There will also be less long transfers between stages.

While the Vuelta’s start stages are known, with a 28km team time trial in Galicia and then five more stages in the region. Two of those days finish uphill, on the Mirador d’Ezaro and at San Andrés de Teixido. stage seven of the fist stage out of Galicia, but the hills don’t stop as stage eight goes up La Camperona (also brutally steel like the Ezaro) and stage ten goes up Vuelta favorite, Lagos de Covadonga. 

Following a rest day, the race plans to visit Cantabria, the Basque Country and Navarre, culminating with a brief visit at the end of the second week into the Pyrenees, but whether the hills used are in France or Spain is unknown. The Col d’Aubisque has been touted as a potential summit finish.

After another rest day, it’s off to Valencia for three stages, the last of those a time trial between Xavea and Calpe. There are a few more hilly days planned before the finish in Madrid.

The official route is known on January 9. If AS’ route is correct, the race will be very hard in the first half but easier in the second half, meaning that with a big time trial and the team time trial, a great climber may not necessarily prevail.