Monaco's government has sent letters to residents living along this weekend's Vuelta a España route, warning that the race's Grand Départ will close much of the principality's road network across two full days starting Saturday. The notice reached households near both the Saturday time trial course and the route of Sunday's opening road stage toward Manosque, urging anyone living or working nearby to plan trips well before the closures begin.
Saturday's stage is an individual time trial run over a 9.6 kilometre loop, with riders finishing on the start line normally used for the Monaco Grand Prix. The course threads through the heart of the principality, covering Place du Casino, Boulevard des Moulins, Annonciade, Avenue de la Madone, Avenue des Spélugues, Portier, Avenue Princesse Grace, the Fontvieille big top, Avenue des Ligures, Avenue des Castelans, Stade Louis II, Avenue Albert II, the Rocher tunnel and Boulevard Albert I. Authorities plan to close every one of those roads to traffic from noon until 9pm, with the last rider expected to cross the line around 7:30pm, and entrances and exits to public parking garages along the route will be shut for the same stretch.
Sunday brings a lighter footprint. The second stage opens with a ceremonial start at noon from Place du Palais, followed by the real start fifteen minutes later near the Jardin Exotique, before the peloton heads out toward Manosque. Foot traffic around the circuit will barely be affected on either day, and pedestrians will be able to move freely along the route at no charge.
Public transport offers one workaround: buses across Monaco will run free of charge from Friday through Sunday, though the principality warns that a number of lines will be rerouted or temporarily suspended to accommodate the race. Residents and employees who need to cross town this weekend are being told to check their usual route in advance rather than assume normal service.