2023 La Vuelta Femenina

12 UCI Women's WorldTeams were automatically invited, joined by 12 UCI Women's Continental Teams (9 of them from Spain). The teams were announced on 3 March 2023. Each team will have seven riders. On 26 April, Zaaf Cycling Team withdrew their entry following allegations of unpaid wages. Two days later, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) revoked Zaaf's licence as they lacked the required number of riders. 23 teams therefore took part in the race. '''UCI Women's WorldTeams''' • • • • • • • • • • • • '''UCI Women's Continental Teams''' • • • • • • • Soltec Team • • • • Team Farto–BTC • == Route and stages ==

In February 2023, the route was announced by race director Fernando Escartín, who also confirmed that the race will be sponsored by supermarket Carrefour. The race was the first edition of La Vuelta Femenina, however, the media noted that the race had grown from the previous Challenge by La Vuelta races. The race started in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca with a team time trial, before heading north with stages through Castilla–La Mancha, Community of Madrid and Castile and León. The final two stages took place in Cantabria and Asturias, with a decisive final climb up the Lagos de Covadonga, a ascent with an average gradient of 7.4%. The first rider to the top of the Lagos de Covadonga climb was awarded the Cima Estela Domínguez, honouring the Spanish rider who was killed while training in 2023. The previous Challenge by La Vuelta events had been criticised by the women's peloton for not being challenging enough. Three-time Giro Donne winner and 2022 Tour de France Femmes winner Annemiek van Vleuten praised the 2023 route, calling it "a very complete Vuelta", and welcomed that the inclusion of the Lagos de Covadonga climb on the final stage, stating "to end in such a famous location is essential for the race". == Race overview ==

Prior to the start of the race, Annemiek van Vleuten, Demi Vollering, Gaia Realini, Mavi García, Kasia Niewiadoma and Juliette Labous were all named as pre-race favourites for the general classification (), with Charlotte Kool, Emma Norsgaard and Marianne Vos tipped for the points classification. For the first time in 2023, each team had 7 riders following a UCI rule change mandating this for events longer than six days. The Zaaf Cycling Team withdrew their entry prior to the start of the event following allegations of unpaid wages. Consequently, 161 riders from 23 teams were present at the start of the race. == Classification leadership table ==

== Classification standings ==

General classification Points classification Mountains classification Team classification == References ==