Ruta del Sol 2026: Route

In the opening stage, the riders travel from Benahavís to Pizarra. Along the way they cross the Sierra de las Nieves, with the Puerto del Madroño and Puerto del Viento standing out as key obstacles, although the finish lies down in the Guadalhorce valley.

Stage 2 starts in the coastal town of Torrox and heads via the Puerto de la Cabra to Otura, where Magnus Sheffield took victory four years ago.

After the start in Jaén, stage 3 serves up the Alto de Santa Ana and Puerto de Peñallana on the way towards a punchy finish in Lopera.

Stage 4 runs from Montoro to Pozoblanco, where Alexander Kristoff won last year. Whether it will again be one for the sprinters remains to be seen, as the route features several climbs, with the Alto de Españares the toughest of them.

In the final stage of the Ruta del Sol, the riders travel from La Roda de Andalucía to Lucena via a double ascent of the Alto de la Primera Cruz. The finale looks tailor-made for puncheurs. In the past, Juan José Lobato (2015) and Alejandro Valverde (2012) triumphed here after hilly races, while Victor Campenaerts was the fastest in a time trial (2017).