Organizers of the 2020 Serratigit Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta have decided to host three days of racing with a brand new opening stage in Toledo on November 6. The race will be the finale of the Women's World Tour's late revised calendar, replacing the original season that was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first three editions (2015, 2016, 2017), the Madrid Challenge consisted of a circuit race stage through the city center of Madrid; in 2018 and 2019, the organizers have added a local stage in Boadilla del Monte added a time trial stage.

The 2020 edition will feature an opening hill road race in Toledo on November 6, a second stage time trial in Boadilla del Monte on November 7, and a third stage closing circuit race in Madrid on November 8.

"It is very important for us to continue developing this project, which we believe is full of opportunities," said Javier Guigen, general manager of La Vuelta.

"It is absolutely essential to claim our vocation of supporting women in cycling. That is exactly why we decided to push this project forward despite the difficulties caused by the health crisis."

It was previously unclear whether the Madrid Challenge would take place, as the number of COVID-19 cases had increased throughout Spain and organizers had not announced the three stages until the week before the race.

FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine's Futuroscope team announced last week that it would not participate in the three-day event, citing concerns for the safety of its riders and staff. The CCC-Liv also announced that the Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne in October would be its last race of the year and that it would not participate.

Organizers announced 17 teams for the race, with six world teams: Yale BTC-Ljubljana, Canyon Slam Racing, Mitchelton Scott, Movistar Team Women, Team Sunweb, and Trek Segafredo. Teams. Eleven Continental teams have also been invited.

The race will start on Friday with an 82.8 km hilly road race from Toledo to Escalona. On Saturday, the second day of racing, a 9.3 km individual time trial will take place in Boadilla del Monte. The race will conclude on Sunday with a 17-lap circuit race in Madrid totaling 98.6 km.

"These three days of racing will put women's cycling at the forefront and help to restore our sense of normalcy and boost our morale as a nation, knowing that the entire community is participating in an event that will continue to grow," Irene Lozano, president of the Higher Council for Sport said.

"Thanks to the efforts of Unipublic, the unqualified supporters for Spanish cycling, the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation, and the partners who have shown great adaptability and resilience, we will have a competition with all the safety guarantees we need in times like these."