There will be 18 Italian riders at the start of the 2025 Vuelta a España, two more than last year. To find a higher number, we must go back to 2018, when 20 Azzurri were at the starting line. Italy will be the fourth most represented nation, after Spain (29), France (20), and Belgium (19).

In the 79 editions held so far, Italian cycling has achieved 6 overall victories and 10 total podiums, the last being Nibali's second place in 2017. In the seven years since, the 16th places of Brambilla (2018) and Fortunato (2024) have been the best general classification performances for our movement. The last Italians to wear the red jersey were Milesi and Piccolo in 2023, both for just one day.

Nibali is also the only Italian to have stood on the final podium more than once: first in 2010, second in 2013 and 2017. The top Italian for stage wins is Petacchi, with 20. The Azzurri have won only 3 of the 100 individual stages contested in the Vuelta from 2020 to 2024: in 2021 with Caruso on the Alto de Velefique, in 2023 with Ganna in the Valladolid time trial, and with Dainese in Iscar. In the last five years, the record belongs to Slovenia with 14 stages won.

Looking at the 506 individual stages raced from 2000 to 2024, Italy has obtained 79 victories, a figure that ranks second behind Spain, the leader with 123.

Source www.ciclopico.it - full article and other statistical curiosities at the link https://ciclopico.it/grandi-giri/la-vuelta/vuelta-di-spagna-pre-2025/