Vuelta around Europe

In the world of road cycling, much revolves around three big races: the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. Together they form the Grand Tours – the most prestigious events on the road bike calendar every year. In recent years, they've grown more international. Every few years, part of a race – usually its ceremonial start, along with some of the days that follow – now unfolds in a neighbouring or nearby country. But until now, no single city had ever hosted the opening of all three. Having welcomed both the Tour and the Giro before, Monaco added the Vuelta this past weekend, completing the set. A handful of other cities, while never hosting the start of a tour, have staged the beginning or end of individual stages across all three tours, most notably Utrecht in the Netherlands and Turin in Italy. Around 70 more have hosted at least two of the three tours.