The Vuelta a España will attempt to protect riders and race officials from COVID-19 by banning spectator roadside access on most major climbs as part of a schedule change for this year's Spanish Grand Tour, which runs from October 20 to November 8.

As many other races have done to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Unipublic, the organizer of the Vuelta, has applied a number of restrictions to the race, encouraging fans to stay home or watch the race on television.

Earlier this month, Unipublic, in consultation with the Basque government, announced that it would ban public spectators from watching the first stage, Alto de Arate, and the twice-used Puerto de Ordunya in stage 7, and has now expanded the ban to the other seven stage climbs.

"The organizers of La Vuelta, in cooperation with health authorities and government delegations from all regions through which the route of the 75th edition will pass, have agreed to apply a series of restrictions to some starting points, finishing points, and passes to limit public participation," Unipublic said in a statement Tuesday.

"La Vuelta deeply regrets that the current epidemiological situation in Spain does not allow for adequate conditions for the public to be present at these points," it continued, adding that the summit finish of stage 6 in Col du Tourmalet, France, on October 25, and the November 1 He added that restrictions will be enforced on stages including the summit finish of stage 6 in Col du Tourmalet, France, on October 25, and the Angliru climb, where stage 12 will finish on November 1.

In all, the public will not be able to participate in the race on nine different climbs in nine stages. Unipublic reserves the right to add further changes and restrictions as deemed appropriate as the race approaches and continues.

Climbs where spectators will be prohibited or limited in number include:

- Alto de Arate on the opening stage

- La Laguna Negra (Vinuesa) on the stage 3 finish

- Col du Tourmalet on stage 6 summit finish

- Puerto de Ordunya, twice on stage 7

- summit of Alto de Moncalvillo on stage 8

- Alto de la Farapona (Lagos de Somiedo) on stage 11 summit of Alto du Tourmalet on stage 6

- summit of Col du Tourmalet on stage 6

- finish of Puerto de Ordunya on stage 12

- finish of Alto de Langrille on stage 13 The race will be run without a publicity caravan, making the live race experience less appealing to families and less appealing to fans. and fans will not have access to team buses at the start and finish of the stage.

"The number of organizational personnel, media, sponsors, teams, and national security forces accompanying La Vuelta 20 will be reduced and strict health protocols will be applied. The number of organizers, media, sponsors, and national security forces accompanying La Vuelta 20 will be reduced, and strict sanitation protocols will be applied. The team parking lots, spaces normally open to the public so that fans can approach the players, will be completely off-limits to guarantee the protection of the players and the respective team officials.

Elsewhere in Europe, both the Paris-Roubaix men's and women's competitions, which were supposed to take place on October 25, have been canceled, and at the ongoing Giro d'Italia, many riders and teams infected with the coronavirus have withdrawn from the race in the past few days.

"The organizers of La Vuelta will release updates via various social media channels as well as the official website," the statement continued. "Meanwhile, we have launched a communications campaign to make fans aware of the need to enjoy this year's La Vuelta from home."

The race asks, "Help us protect La Vuelta.

The race asks, "Help us defend La Vuelta: with the social media hashtag #LaVuelta20EnCasa.

"The aim, as ever, is to avoid any kind of congestion surrounding the event by always respecting the standards set by the national and municipal health authorities with whom we are in constant and uninterrupted contact," Unipublic said.