The race was composed of 21 stages over 4,354 km (2,705 mi) and was ridden at an average of 29 km/h (18 mph).

The second edition of the Vuelta began under a volatile political and social situation and several weeks after the race was over, Spain was plunged into its civil war.

[1] The race was anticipated to see a battle between the previous winner Belgian Gustaaf Deloor and the second-place finisher of 1935 Spaniard Mariano Canardo.

However a crash during the early stages of the race ruled Canardo out of the runnings.

While Deloor led the race from the second stage to the finish, his brother Alfons climbed up the classification and when second placed Spaniard Antonio Escuriet suffered exhaustion on the penultimate day, Alfons rode himself into the second place overall.