For the second time in a row Granada is going to host Spain’s Vuelta start. The Andalusian City hosted the Vuelta’s inauguration stage for the first time, in 2005, when the start and finishing line of an individual timed lap that went to, Denis Menchov, the Vuelta last winner, was set in Granada.

The Russian donned the leader’s jersey in Granada for one day only, since, in the second lap, ending in Cordoba, it was taken over by the Australian racer, Bradley McGee, of the Française des Jeux team.

The Vuelta came to Granada when it was first run, in 1935. It was in the tenth stage when racers arrived to the City from Murcia 85 kilometres away. The Austrian, Max Bulla was the winner, then.

Granada has been in many editions of Spain’s Vuelta route, boasting 21 departures and 18 stage arrivals. The 63rd edition of Spain’s Vuelta is going to start on Saturday, the 30th of August, featuring a team’s timed trial. The level route, just seven kilometres long, will be the opening stage where the fist 2008 leader will stand on the podium.

This will be the ninth time Spain’s Vuelta starts by a teams timed trial. Madrid and Gijón -twice - and San Sebastian, Valencia, Leon and Malaga - once each - are the remaining sites where Spain’s Vuelta started by a timed trial of this kind.