MADRID, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The 2020 Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycle race will start on August 14 in the Dutch city of Utrecht, the race organizers confirmed on Tuesday.

The start in the Netherlands continues a tradition of the three week long race (one of the three "Grand Tours" along with the Tour de France and the Giro de Italia) starting in a different country to Spain, which began in 1997 when it started in Lisbon. The 2009 edition saw the Vuelta begin in Assen (the Netherlands), while in 2017, it started in the French city of Nimes.

The race will spend three days in the Netherlands before returning to Spain.

The August 14 start is the earliest the race has started since 1995 when it began to be held in September rather than in April.

"We are excited at the idea of organizing a new international start and I can't think of anywhere better than the Netherlands. In 2009, Assen showed us they are great hosts," commented race director Javier Guillen.