This Sunday, Madrid will be at the center of the cycling world as it hosts the final, 21st stage of the 2025 Vuelta. The city is preparing for major changes to its usual routine—traffic will be restricted, and some streets will be completely closed to cars and buses.
The race is scheduled to start at 16:44 in Alalpardo, after which participants will cover more than 110 kilometers, passing through Algete, San Sebastián de los Reyes, and Alcobendas. By 17:15, the peloton will enter Madrid via the M-603, heading toward Fuencarral. The route then continues through Montecarmelo, El Pardo, and Aravaca, and afterwards, the cyclists will speed along the A-6 motorway towards the historic city center.
In the heart of the city, cyclists will race past iconic sites: avenida Virgen del Puerto, Palacio Real, and plaza de Oriente. The route then continues along calle Carrera de San Jerónimo, plaza Cánovas del Castillo (Neptuno), paseo del Prado, and plaza de Cibeles, where a temporary finish line will be set up. But the challenge doesn’t end there—another nine laps on the city circuit await, including Prado, Recoletos to Colón, a descent along calle Alcalá to Callao and Gran Vía, then back to Prado. This section will last from 18:05 to 19:22, though delays until 20:00 are possible if the race pace proves slower than expected.
Restrictions will take effect well before the start. From as early as 4 a.m., central streets such as Prado, Cibeles, and Gran Vía will be closed off for infrastructure setup. During the day, closures will be introduced gradually, depending on the progress of the race. This will particularly affect the M-603 road, Monasterio de El Escorial Avenue, El Pardo – Fuencarral road, Manuel Alonso Street, Guardia Avenue, and the El Cristo de El Pardo route. In the city center, restrictions will apply to Virgen del Puerto, the Royal Palace, Carrera de San Jerónimo, Cánovas del Castillo, Prado, Recoletos, Colón, Alcalá, Callao, and Gran Vía.
Residents and visitors are advised to avoid using personal vehicles in favor of the metro or bicycles to prevent traffic jams and inconvenience. EMT bus routes will operate on modified schedules until 22:30, which should also be considered when planning trips. On this day, Madrid will truly change—not just for cycling enthusiasts.
