Vuelta 2026: Favourites
fotobureau Cor VosNot only did Jonas Vingegaard win the GC in last year's Vuelta a España, the Dane also took three out of nineteen completed stages. Jasper Philipsen also claimed three stage victories, while Juan Ayuso and Jay Vine each came out on top twice. What can we expect this year? With Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen on the start list, we can look forward to a whole host of thrilling races.
Read about the main contenders for the red jersey and the final podium.
Another interesting read: records & winners Tour of Spain.
Use the links in the table below to discover the favourites for each stage win.
Vuelta a España 2026 - favourites
| # | date | route | km | type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22-8 | Favourites for the frst red jeyse | 9.4 | ITT |
| 2 | 23-8 | Tough sprinters in hilly race | 204.0 | hils |
| 3 | 24-8 | Attackers on uphill finish | 174.0 | mountains |
| 4 | 25-8 | Who'll win explosive Andorra stage | 104.8 | mountains |
| 5 | 26-8 | Falset - Roquetes | 173.3 | flat |
| 6 | 27-8 | Alcossebre - Castellón | 177.4 | hills |
| 7 | 28-8 | Vall d'Alba - Valdelinares | 149.8 | mountains |
| 8 | 29-8 | Pucol - Xeraco | 171.0 | flat |
| 9 | 30-8 | La Villa Joiosa - Alto de Aitana | 187.4 | mountains |
| 31-8 | rest day | |||
| 10 | 1-9 | Alcaraz - Elche de la Sierra | 184.7 | hills |
| 11 | 2-9 | Cartagena - Lorca | 151.3 | flat |
| 12 | 3-9 | Vera - Calar Alto | 166.6 | mountains |
| 13 | 4-9 | Almuñécar - Loja | 192.8 | hills |
| 14 | 5-9 | Jaén - Sierra de la Pandera | 154.5 | mountains |
| 15 | 6-9 | Palma de Río - Córdoba | 188.7 | hills |
| 7-9 | rest day | |||
| 16 | 8-9 | Cortegana - La Rábida | 181.1 | flat |
| 17 | 9-9 | Dos Hermanas - Sevilla | 185.0 | flat |
| 18 | 10-9 | El Puerto de Santa Maria - Jerez de la Frontera | 32.1 | ITT |
| 19 | 11-9 | Véléz-Malaga - Peñas Blancas | 210.8 | mountains |
| 20 | 12-9 | La Calahorra - Collada de Alguacil | 186.8 | mountains |
| 21 | 13-9 | Granada - Granada | 112.0 | hills |
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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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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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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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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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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