Vuelta a España director Javier Guigen confirmed that there are plans to lengthen the women's stage race, which will be held alongside the men's in the final week, from two to four stages.

First created as a one-day Women's WorldTour event in 2015, when Shelley Olds won a group sprint, the Challenge by La Vuelta was extended to two stages in 2018 and 2019. It was then increased to three stages for the first time in 2020.

The 2020 Challenge by La Vuelta began with an undulating stage around Toledo, southwest of Madrid, followed by a short time trial and then a flat stage through the capital on the same urban circuit as the men's Vuelta. Germany's Lisa Brennauer (Serratigit-WNT Pro) took the overall win for the second year in a row.

"The Vuelta is not only based on the men's pro event," Guillen insisted at a media meeting run by Europress News Agency on Tuesday morning.

"We are very happy with the way La Vuelta is promoting the challenge and investing in women's sports. [Like the Tour de France's ASO (which will host a women's race in 2022), in the medium to long term we can grow it into a five to seven day race. It would then become one of the most important races on the international calendar."

"We are doing so not only because we feel it is the right thing to do, but also because the benefits are becoming clearer each year. Also, our people want us to do so, and it is a race that will work."[11