Vuelta 2026: Route and stages
This Saturday, the Gran Salida of the 81st edition of the Vuelta a España takes place in Monaco. Stage 1 is a 9.4-kilometre individual time trial held entirely within Monegasque territory. From there, the red caravan heads through southern France and Andorra before entering Spain. The lion’s share of the route runs through the sweltering south, before the Vuelta finishes in Granada on Sunday 13 September.
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Vuelta 2026: GC Favourites
The Vuelta a España promises to be yet another Tadej Pogacar show. He was untouchable in the Tour de France, and it seems only logical that things will be no different in Spain. Cyclingstage.com takes a closer look at the contenders for the Vuelta’s final podium.
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Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 1: Who'll blast to the first red jersey?
Time trial specialists have a golden opportunity to take the Vuelta’s first leader’s jersey. The Monaco course is just 9.4 kilometres long and almost completely flat. It offers a fine mix of technical sections and stretches where the riders can really build up speed.
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Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 2: Tough sprinters in hilly race
En route from Monaco to Manosque, the road is constantly going either up or down. None of the uphill sections are particularly tough, but with more than 2,600 metres of elevation gain, the route is on the demanding side for pure sprinters. Then again, there are no real pure sprinters in the Vuelta anyway - although the likes of Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert are very much in the mix.
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Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 3: Attackers on uphill finish
Even though the riders are still racing on French roads, the third day serves up a classic Vuelta-style stage. After dozens of flat kilometres, all the climbing is packed into the finale. It is not an overly gruelling day in the saddle, but tough enough to set up an exciting finish. We are tipping the breakaway to take the spoils.
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Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 4: Who'll win explosive Andorra stage?
La Vuelta does not waste any time getting down to the essentials. As early as stage 4, a beast of a mountain stage awaits. The riders tackle four summits over 104.8 kilometres, in a stage that takes place entirely in the mountainous principality of Andorra.
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Vuelta 2026: Route
La Vuelta a España packs 57,079 metres of elevation gain into a 3,298.5-kilometre route. The race starts in Monaco before gradually heading south towards the finish in Granada. Along the way, the riders face several brutal summit finishes, including Alto de Aitana, Calar Alto, Peñas Blancas and the monstrous Collado del Alguacil in the Sierra Nevada.
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