Ourense will host the first stage of the 2016 Vuelta a Espana (August 20 to September 11), with four stages of the five stages in Galicia to be held in the province. Today it was announced that the opeing team time trial will have a length of 28km.

The council of Ourense has announced start of the 2016 Vuelta druing a presententation at the Yacht Club Castrelo de Miño, attended by the president of the council, Manuel Baltar, the Director of Tourism of Galicia, Nava Castro, and the Vuelta CEO , Javier Guillen.

On August 20 , the 72nd edition of the Vuelta will start with a team time trial of 28 kilometers, staring from the resort of Laias in Celle and finishing in Castrelo. "This is a stage in which we will have differences between the pre-race favourites right from the beginning of a race that will keep the profile of the latests edition of the Vuelta where the mountains had a major role," remarked Guillen.

The second stage will start in Ourense and finish in Pontevedra; the third will leave Marín (Pontevedra) and end at the top of the steep Mirador de Ezaro (A Coruña), the first summit finish; the fourth will travel from Betanzos (A Coruña) to Luintra (Ourense) and the fifth will be from Maceda (Ourense) to Lugo. The presentation of the teams will take place in Arnoia.

La Camperona (8th), Alto de Naranco (9th), and Lagos de Covadonga (10th) are the other confirmed summit finishes and the race will also include a time trial in Calpe on stage 18. The race will finish in Madrdi.

The official peresentation will be held on January 9 in Santiago de Compostela.

Stage 1: Balneario Laias (Cenlle, Ourense) - Parque Náutico de Castrelo de Miño (Ourense), 28 km TTT
Stage 2: Ourense - Pontevedra
Stage 3: Marín (Pontevedra) - Mirador Ézaro (A Coruña)

Stage 4: Betanzos (A Coruña) - Luintra (Nogueira de Ramuín, Ourense)
Stage 5: Maceda (Ourense) - Lugo