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Madrid - This year's Vuelta a Espana is set to be decided in the mountains with nine summit finishes included in the route unveiled on Saturday.
The race will start with an 8km individual time-trial in the southern port city of Malaga on August 25 and will spend eight days in the south of Spain before journeying through the mountainous terrain close to the Atlantic coast and heading into the Pyrenees for a decisive final stretch.
It will conclude in the capital Madrid on Sunday, September 16.
"We want the mountains to be key in deciding the Vuelta," said Vuelta director Javier Guillen.
Last year's race was won by Chris Froome, as he became just the third rider in history to win the Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France in the same year.
But it was revealed last month that Froome - the first British winner of the race - had given an adverse doping test during the Vuelta.
He was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma medication Salbutamol in his system and could yet be stripped of his title.
If the 32-year-old does take part, he will see summit finishes at Les Praeres in Asturias and at Balcon de Bizkaia in the Basque Country for the first time in the history of the race.
The Vuelta will also return to Lagos de Covadonga in the Picos de Europa, where Colombian Nairo Quintana took the leader's red jersey in 2016 before holding it all the way to the end.
After the first stage, the only other time-trial will be on the 16th stage, 32.7km from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.
That could be seen as a measure taken to prevent a rider like Froome wrapping up overall victory early on, although Froome won the only individual time-trial last year having done likewise in 2016.
The overall winner may not be decided until the penultimate stage in Andorra, before riders head to Madrid for the traditional finish.
The route for the 2018 Vuelta a Espana was unveiled on Saturday in Malaga, where this year's race will begin on August 25:
August 25: 1st stage Malaga - Malaga, 8km individual time-trial
August 26: 2nd stage Marbella - Caminito del Rey, 163.9km
August 27: 3rd stage Mijas - Alhaurin de la Torre, 182.5km
August 28: 4th stage Velez-Malaga - Alfacar, 162km
August 29: 5th stage Granada - Roquetas de Mar, 188km
August 30: 6th stage Huercal-Overa - San Javier, 153km
August 31: 7th stage Puerto Lumbreras - Pozo Alcon, 182km
September 1: 8th stage Linares - Almaden, 195.5km
September 2: 9th stage Talavera de la Reina - La Covatilla, 195km
September 3: Rest day
September 4: 10th stage Salamanca - Fermoselle, Bermillo de Sayago, 172.5km
September 5: 11th stage Mombuey - Luintra, 208.8km
September 6: 12th stage Mondonedo - Faro de Estaca de Bares, Manon, 177.5km
September 7: 13th stage Candas - La Camperona, 175.5km
September 8: 14th stage Cistierna - Nava, 167km
September 9: 15th stage Ribera de Arriba - Lagos de Covadonga, 185.5km
September 10: Rest day
September 11: 16th stage Santillana del Mar - Torrelavega, 32.7km (individual time-trial)
September 12: 17th stage Getxo - Balcon de Bizkaia, 166.4km
September 13: 18th stage Ejea de los Caballeros - Lleida, 180.5 km
September 14: 19th stage Lleida - Andorra (Naturlandia), 157km
September 15: 20th stage Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) - Col de la Gallina, 105.8km
September 16: 21st stage Alcorcon - Madrid, 112km
