Vuelta 2026: Favourites
fotobureau Cor VosFreddy Maertens won thirteen stages of the 1977 Vuelta. With three wins in five stages, Tadej Pogacar was well on his way to challenging that record in the 2026 edition, but he was forced to abandon after a crash on stage 8. Matthew Brennan then took over as the race’s most successful stage hunter, claiming five victories, while Wout van Aert added two for Visma LAB. Tobias Halland Johannessen, Mikel Landa, Eddie Dunbar, Stefan Küng, Marco Brenner, Andreas Leknessund, Bryan Coquard, Enric Mas and Bastien Tronchon each claimed one stage win.
Read about the GC favourites or click on the links in the table below for the favourites to win individual stages. Obviously, all these articles were written before the start of the race(s).
Vuelta a España 2026 - favourites
Late attackers versus sprinters
The final stage of the Vuelta bears some resemblance to that of the Tour. In Paris, Mathieu van der Poel held off the charging peloton by just a few millimetres. Can the breakaway riders pull off the same feat in Granada?
Tough going in Sierra Nevada
The final mountain stage is likely to be the toughest of the entire Vuelta. The riders face 4,890 metres of elevation gain, most of it packed into the final 100 kilometres. The finishing climb is a brutal test, with gradients in double digits throughout the final 6 kilometres. Luckily, the battle for overall victory has no been settled, so this is a dream finale for the fight for the Vuelta title.
Attackers at Peñas Blancas
The 19th stage of the Vuelta heads west along Spain’s southern coast, with the riders venturing into the mountainous interior midway through. After descending back to the coast, they tackle the 18.8-kilometre final climb, which averages 6.5%.
For pure ITT specialists
After the short time trial on the opening day, the time trial specialists get another chance to showcase their skills in stage 18. The course is flat and, at 32.1 kilometres, much longer than that of stage 1.
For fast men #4
Stage 17 is the flattest stage of the Vuelta, and it would be a major surprise if the sprinters don’t have the final say.
More articles
For sprinters and attackersRollings roads towards sprint finish
Another feast for the climbers
For fast-finishing attackers
Gruelling journey to Calar Alto observatory
For fast men #3
Resilient sprinters or attackers
Reset for the GC contenders
GC contenders after Pogacar’s withdrawal
For fast men #2
For climbers with an attacking mindset
Steep gravel climb shapes finale
For fast men #1
Who'll win explosive Andorra stage?
Attackers on uphill finish
Tough sprinters in hilly race
Who'll blast to the first red jersey?