Tour of Spain to end with time trial

The 2014 Tour of Spain will finish with a 10km individual time trial in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, a change from the usual procession through Madrid on the final stage of the race.

The map of Spain with the route of the 69th Vuelta cycling tour of Spain is displayed during its presentation in Cadiz on January 11, 2014. The 2014 Tour of Spain will finish with a 10km individual time-trial in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, organisers revealed today in a change from the usual procession through Madrid on the final stage of the race. AFP PHOTO/ GOGO LOBATO

The 69th edition of "La Vuelta" also begins with a team time trial on August 23 and will encompass 21 stages in all before finishing on September 14 in Compostela.

However, the race is likely to be decided on eight gruelling mountain finishes with three in consecutive days on stages 14, 15 and 16.

There will be one further individual time-trial on stage 10 after the first rest day with a second rest day planned between stages 16 and 17 on the final Tuesday of the three-week long race.

Spanish heavyweights Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez have already signalled their intent to participate.

However, with the world championships also due to take place in Ponferrada, Spain, less than two weeks after the finish in Compostela, the race could attract an even stronger field than in recent years.