The third Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana looks set to be a memorable battle over three weeks, across some of the toughest terrain Spain has to offer.

With a route which will appeal to the climbers, a talent-stacked field will take the start in Pamplona on Saturday 18 August for one of the biggest races of the year.

Looking to build on an exciting 2011 edition, the race won't venture south of Madrid but focuses instead on in the toughest roads of northern Spain.

The summit finishes arrive thick and fast, so let's take a look at each stage, and the unique challenges they have to offer.

Stages

Saturday 18 August – Stage one: Pamplona (team time trial), 16.5km

The race kicks off, as in 2010, with an evening team time trial. The streets of Pamplona will decide the first recipient of the red jersey on a flat course which combines an enticing mixture of long drags and tight turns. The action begins in the Plaza del Castillo and heads south-west before turning to cut through the Navarra university campus. The finish in the Plaza de Toros, home to the famous bull run, should see each team giving everything to seize an early initiative.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1745-1945.

Sunday 19 August – Stage two: Pamplona to Viana, 181.4km

The first road stage proper should appeal to the sprinters, despite a relatively lumpy parcours. The race heads south from Pamplona, looping around for the first sprint point in Tafalla (59km), before attention turns to mountain points. The third-category Alto de la Chapela (77km) will be fiercely-contested by the enevitable break, with the first man over the top set to be the initial King of the Mountains. The race then runs south-west to Viana for a 20km finishing circuit.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1545-1645.

Monday 20 August – Stage three: Faustino V to Eibar (Arrate), 155.3km

The climbs begin in earnest with a tough day in the mid-mountains. There are four categorised peaks on the agenda as the race heads north, criss-crossing the Spanish countryside in search of steep gradients. First up is the second-category Alto La Aldea (32.3km), the race heading over 1000 metres for the first time in the process. It is a rude awakening so early in the race and contenders will have to be alert, with an attacking finale ensured on a climb best-known for its inclusion in the Tour of the Basque Country.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.

Tuesday 21 August – Stage four: Barakaldo to Estacion de Valdezcaray, 160.6km

The race finishes its short foray into the Basque Country and heads south, but not before the riders have tackled the tough first-category ramp of the Puerto de Orduna. The riders continue through Rioja and its famous vineyards, but all attention will be on the final climb. The first summit finish of the race isn’t likely to blow the race apart, yet the 1550m ascent up to the Valdezcaray ski station is a long drag. The preceding ramps mean that the riders will be grinding upwards for the best part of 50km. These early climbs should demonstrate who has the legs and who is on the back foot.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.

Wednesday 22 August – Stage five: Logrono to Logrono, 168km

Bookended by tough mountain tests, stage five will come as welcome relief to many and provides one of the only chances for the sprinters to duke it out. A large circuit around Logrono will act as the battleground with a ramp at Sorzano featuring in each of the four laps. A bunch sprint looks to be a near-certainty on one of the most straightforward days of the race. Overall contenders will look to stay out of trouble, with more than half an eye on Thursday’s finish.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1710.

Thursday 23 August – Stage six: Tarazona to Jaca, 175.4km

Another summit finish to size up the climbers - the Fuerte del Rapitan may be short, but it makes up for it with a steep average gradient of 8%, with some sections peaking at 14%. The summit finish should suit the punchier climbers in the bunch, but before the riders begin the ascent to Jaca they also have to take on the Puerto de Oroel (162km). This third-category climb will soften up the legs but could also provide a springboard for attacks. Either way, as the end of the first week approaches, the contenders will know they are in a fight.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.

Friday 24 August – Stage seven: Huesca to Alcaniz (Motorland Aragon), 164.2km

The fast men re-take the limelight on stage seven with another likely sprint finish, this time with some real racing pedigree. The stage drops south from the start in Huesca and every rider will be looking to size up the amount of wind, and its direction. With no categorised climbs on the stage, a sprint looks to be ensured as the peloton hit Alcaniz and enter the Motorland Aragon racing circuit. Who will take the chequered flag first?

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.

Saturday 25 August – Stage eight: Lleida to Andorra. Collada de la Gallina, 175km

The race heads north-east into Andorra for what looks set to be the toughest finish so far. The route reaches Ollana (84km) before ramping up gradually and culminating with the second-category Puerto de la Comella. From there the riders head down a sharp descent before commencing the final climb of the day. The Collada de la Gallina makes its Vuelta debut with steep sections and an average gradient of 8% over its 7.2km face. The finish will require a show of strength from those with designs on the GC.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.Sunday 26 August - Stage nine: Andorra to Barcelona, 196.3km

A high-profile stage finish into Barcelona is one of the most difficult stages to read of the race thus far. A parcours which lends itself to the sprinters for most of the day holds a sting in the tail in the final kilometres. The steep ramps of the Alto de Montjuich could see some tailed off before a drag up to the finish outside the Olympic Stadium. Last seen - not at the Vuelta, but at the Tour de France in 2009 - the final kilometres could play into the hands of a breakaway if time gaps have opened up sufficiently.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Tuesday 28 August - Stage 10: Ponteareas to Sanxenxo, 190km

Nestled in the upper left-hand corner of the country, stage 11 sees the race stick to the coast ahead of a bunch finish. Picking up after the rest day, the riders crest the only significant climb of the day, the Alto de San Antonio, after 30km. The chase will then be on for any sprint teams who want to set up a bunch kick. The road snakes its way up the Galician coast where the sea breeze may play a role.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Wednesday 29 August - Stage 11: Cambados to Pontevedra, 39.4km

The only individual time trial of the race may not be all bad news for the climbing fraternity, with a third-category ascent providing the focal point. Narrow roads and the passage over the Alto Monte Castrove will still hand the advantage to the time trial specialists, meaning there may be contenders who look to take risks on its technical descent. The route winds its way down towards Pontevedra before a flat final stretch which gives the powerful riders a chance to open it up. The stage should put an interesting twist on the overall standings, albeit with a long way still to go.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Thursday 30 August - Stage 12: Vilagracia de Arousa to Mirador de Ezaro, 190,5km

It's all about the finish on stage 12, with a steep ramp in Dumbria set to appeal to the puncheurs in the bunch. 1.8km at 13.5% speaks for itself. The final climb is a wall and will see significant time gaps open up despite the completely flat approach. Another new climb, the Mirador de Ezaro looks like it will be one to remember.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Friday 31 August - Stage 13: Santiago de Compostela to Ferrol, 172.8km

A sprint stage on paper but one that comes with its fair share of complications, stage 13 will require teams to take control if they are going to fend off a breakaway. Another lumpy day in Galicia, the stage features an early third-category climb in the form of the Alto San Vicenzo (29km), but looks set to hold a sting in the tail yet again. A tough but uncategorised ramp just prior to Vilanova could see the fast men put into difficulty with only seven kilometres left to recover before the finish.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Saturday 1 September - Stage 14: Palas de Rei to Puerto de Ancares, 149km

With short but brutal mountain stages in fashion with the Veulta organisers, September begins with a test which has all the hallmarks of a spectacular stage. Five categorised climbs within 150km will encourage attacks from the outset, with the Portomarin (24km), Alto Vilaesteva (68.3km) and Alto de O Lago (87.4km) all included to wear down the peloton. The first-category Alto Folgueiras de Aigas is next up and is a tough climb in its own right, yet serves only to prepare the riders for the summit finish. The Puerto de Ancares towers up to 1661m and, despite the spectacular views, the ascent should provide a stern test for the favourites.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Sunday 2 September - Stage 15: La Robla to Lagos de Covadonga, 186.5km

One of the most famous climbs in the Vuelta, Lagos de Covadonga may not quite decide the race, but it will certainly play a part in influencing the overall destination of the red jersey. Ahead of that, the riders climb briefly out of La Robla before a hefty descent down to Vega del Rey (47km). From there a brief third-category climb at Santo Emiliano (72km) kicks off a sequence of smaller peaks. The shorter first-category Puerto del Fito (146.2km) acts as a run-in before it's on to the Covadonga, with nowhere to hide for the contenders.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1400-1645.

Monday 3 September - Stage 16: Gijon to Valgrande-Pajares. Cuitu Negru, 183.5km

A third consecutive summit finish arrives on the queen stage of the race. Three huge climbs loom large over the second half of the day - the first of which is the Alto de San Lorenzo (101.2km). Next up is the pass over the Cobertoria before a steep descent down into Pola de Lena. The Asturias only get tougher as the Ciutu Negru arrives, the 1850m monster getting progressively tougher before a wall heading under the 3km banner. This should slow the climbers to a crawl and see the very best rise to the top.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Wednesday 5 September - Stage 17: Santander to Fuente De, 187.3km

After a well-earned rest day the riders ready themselves for yet another summit finish. Not as demanding as the tests in the Asturias, this stage is more straightforward and should play into the hands of a breakaway in the Cantabrian Mountains. Two climbs create the lead-in to the finale, with the third cat. Collada de Ozalva (115.3km) and the second-category Collada de Hoz (127.8km) coming back-to-back. The final run up the Fuente De won't win any awards for steepness, but a tired peloton will feel every metre.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1400-1645.

Thursday 6 September - Stage 18: Aguilar de Campoo to Valladolid, 204.5km

After battling through the mountains, those sprinters who've remained will be treated to a stage tailor-made for them. Wind will once again play a factor on exposed, elevated roads as the riders head south. If the peloton remains vigilant it should all be together by the time the race reaches the downhill run into Valladolid. With so few chances for the fast men there will be a big fight for the win in the final week.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Friday 7 September - Stage 19: Penafiel to La Lastrilla, 178.4km

There will be a fight to get up the road among those who are still looking to get something out of the race as this is widely regarded as the final chance for a breakaway to succeed. The overall contenders will hope to conserve energy on the run east to Segovia ahead of the penultimate stage, leaving the coast clear for an opportunistic victor. The strongest man up the road should prosper with a final uphill drag into La Lastrilla.

Live coverage on British Eurosport 2 between 1500-1645.

Saturday 8 September - Stage 20: La Faisanera Golf to Bola del Mundo, 170.7km

The final chance to shake up the general classification, the fight for the red jersey could come down to a dramatic conclusion. A beast of a stage, four categorised climbs set things up ahead of the epic ramps of the Bola del Mundo. An instant classic when it debuted in 2010, the 2252m climb on rough, narrow roads ramps up at 12% and will provide a tough obstacle for the rider in red on the way up to the highest point of the race.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1415-1645.

Sunday 9 September - Stage 21: Cercedilla to Madrid, 115km

The final stage of the race sees a closing drag into the nation's capital. A short stage at 115km, the test acts as a processional celebration similar to the Tour de France before a bunch kick. After a downhill run into the city, 10 laps of a 5.7km circuit will line out the riders on the Plaza de Cibeles ahead of a showpiece sprint. While the race will have been decided 24 hours earlier, the finale will see the winner of the Vuelta officially crowned.

Live coverage on British Eurosport between 1500-1645.