Navarra has just announced that it is closing itself off from the rest of Spain for 15days, with exceptions only for work or health appointments. Thankfully for the Vuelta a España, the restrictions will begin on Thursday, once the race has passed though.

For context & those unfamiliar with the way the Spanish state is organised, Navarra is one of the 17 autonomous regions & 2 autonomous cities into which the country has been divided since democracy returned in the 1970s.

Despite being a parliamentary monarchy, practically Spain has devolved power to the regions in the way a federation of states would. Every region has a president & own parliament. This could be very important for the Vuelta, as it’s each region that is responsible for health.

The race begins in the Basque Country (Euskadi / País Vasco), but heads to Navarra (and a basque speaking area of that region, which is a discussion for another day…!) on stage 2.