The stage race is scheduled to begin just 10-days after the Rio 2016 Olympic men’s time trial event, with the opening leg a 29.4 kilometres team time trial from Balneario de Laias to Castrelo de Miño, in the province of Ourense.

Stage two, from Ourense to Baiona, will offer the first of seven chances for the sprinters to earn victories during the 71st edition of the race.

Meanwhile, the first of the 12 hill and mountain stages will take place the following day, with a summit finish at Mirador Ézaro.

The vast majority of the 21 stages are due to take place in the north of the country as cyclists battle for the overall red jersey, however stage 14 will draw to a close in Aubisque, France.

It is expected to be one of the key stages during the race, with the main contenders for the overall victory due to battle across four mountain passes, three first category climbs and one special category assent. 

The stage will see the race visit the Col d'Aubisque, one of the Tour de France's regular Pyrenean finishes, for the first time. 

Organisers will hope for a repeat of last year’s edition of the race, when Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin and Italy’s Fabio Aru went head-to-head in a close battle for victory.

The individual time trial on stage 17 had looked like being crucial with specialist Dumoulin claiming the overall lead, but Aru eventually overhauled him on the final mountain stage.

For the 2016 race, the sole time trial is due to be held on stage 19, with a 39km route from Jávea to Calpe.

The winner is due to be confirmed on the penultimate stage from Benidorm to Alto de Aitana, which will end with a summit finish after 184km of racing.

Following the 102.5km stage from Las Rozas to Madrid, the champion will be crowned in the Spanish capital.

Despite winning in 2015, Aru’s participation looks uncertain as the Astana rider is expected to ride in the Tour de France.

This year's Vuelta will run from August 20 to September 11.