'''La Vuelta Femenina''' ({{IPA|es|la ˈβwelta femeˈnina|lang}}; "The Female Tour") is an elite [[List of women's road bicycle races|women's professional bicycle race]] held in Spain. The race is organised by [[Unipublic]] and [[Amaury Sport Organisation]] (ASO), which also organises the men's [[Vuelta a España]]. It is part of the [[UCI Women's WorldTour|UCI Women's World Tour]].

'''La Vuelta Femenina''' ({{IPA|es|la ˈβwelta femeˈnina|lang}}; "The Female Tour") is an elite [[List of women's road bicycle races|women's professional bicycle race]] held in Spain. The race is organised by [[Unipublic]] and [[Amaury Sport Organisation]] (ASO), which also organises the men's [[Vuelta a España]]. It is part of the [[UCI Women's WorldTour|UCI Women's World Tour]].

Some teams and media have referred to the race as a [[Grand Tour (cycling)|'Grand Tour']], as it is one of the biggest events on the women's calendar.{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Betsy |date=2023-02-28 |title=La Vuelta Femenina 2023 to finish on Lagos de Covadonga |url=https://www.velonews.com/news/road/details-of-la-vuelta-femenina-revealed/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=VeloNews.com |language=en |quote=The seven stages of the third ‘grand tour’ for women}} However, the race does not meet the UCI definition of such an event.{{Cite web |date=1 April 2022 |title=UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS PART 2 ROAD RACES |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/7MLz0Fo06hpqNvEvrlXaf2/b5ffbf462d47f4d559d90d2089d128ae/2-ROA-20220401-E.pdf |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]] |page=59 |quote=Elite women world circuit The duration of events ... is limited to 6 days unless an exemption is made by the UCI Management Committee}}

First held in September 2015 as the '''Challenge by La Vuelta''' one day race alongside the men's race, it became a stage race in 2018 and gradually increased in length. '''La Vuelta Femenina''' was first held as a standalone event in 2023. Some teams and media have referred to the race as a [[Grand Tour (cycling)|'Grand Tour']], as it is one of the biggest and longest events on the women's calendar.{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Betsy |date=2023-02-28 |title=La Vuelta Femenina 2023 to finish on Lagos de Covadonga |url=https://www.velonews.com/news/road/details-of-la-vuelta-femenina-revealed/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=VeloNews.com |language=en |quote=The seven stages of the third ‘grand tour’ for women}} However, the race does not meet the UCI definition of such an event.{{Cite web |date=1 April 2022 |title=UCI CYCLING REGULATIONS PART 2 ROAD RACES |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/7MLz0Fo06hpqNvEvrlXaf2/b5ffbf462d47f4d559d90d2089d128ae/2-ROA-20220401-E.pdf |access-date=4 August 2022 |website=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]] |page=59 |quote=Elite women world circuit The duration of events ... is limited to 6 days unless an exemption is made by the UCI Management Committee}}{{Cite web |last=Frattini |first=Kirsten |date=16 October 2021 |title=A closer look reveals the inequity at Tour de France Femmes |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/a-closer-look-reveals-the-inequity-at-tour-de-france-femmes/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=cyclingnews.com}} Generally held over seven to eight days in May, the course features ascents of mountain passes as well as individual or team [[Time trial|time trials]].

The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the general classification and wears the [[red jersey]]. While the general classification gathers the most attention, there are other contests held within the race: the points classification for the sprinters, the mountains classification for the climbers and young rider classification for the riders under the age of 23. Achieving a stage win also provides prestige, often accomplished by a team's [[Cycling sprinter|sprint]] specialist or a rider taking part in a breakaway.

La Vuelta Femenina replaces the '''Challenge by La Vuelta''' stage race (previously one day race) run between 2015 and 2022, staged at the same time as the men's tour.

== History ==

== History ==

== Winners ==

== Winners ==

[[File:2023 AGR - start Annemiek van Vleuten 1.jpg|thumb|[[Annemiek van Vleuten]] has won the most editions of the race – winning Challenge by La Vuelta in 2021 and 2022, and the first edition of La Vuelta Femenina in 2023.]]

=== Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta ===

=== Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta ===