Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 13: For fast-finishing attackers

fotobureau Cor VosIt is neither the first nor the last time in this Vuelta that the riders face a stage with a hilly opening section and a relatively flat second half. Sprinters or attackers, or - maybe even better - a combination of both? (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 21 August 2026

The first half of the race features the Alto de la Venta de la Cebada (14.1 kilometres at 5.1%) and Alto del Legionario (15.4 kilometres at 3.1%), while there is plenty more climbing to be done between these two categorised climbs. All in all, a perfect setting for a strong breakaway to form.

The road certainly doesn't flatten out afterwards, but the terrain does become easier. Via an uncategorised climb of 5.1 kilometres at 3.5% and the Puerto de Granada — 7.4 kilometres at 5.6% — the riders reach a roughly 20-kilometre section of false flat downhill. The road is then virtually flat for the final 12 kilometres, although the final kilometre does rise slightly again.

Will a team with a fast finisher in its ranks be willing to control the race through the deep south of Spain, or will the breakaway get the chance to fight for the win? We are putting our money on the latter option, and it wouldn't surprise us to see the likes of Pedersen, Laporte and Van Aert trying to sneak into the breakaway.

Favourites 13th stage 2026 Vuelta a España

*** Mads Pedersen, Christophe Laporte, Wout Van Aert
** Koen Bouwman, Thibau Nys, Finn Fisher-Black, Axel Laurance
* Kaden Groves, Ethan Hayter, Iván Romeo, Alexey Lutsenko, Orluis Aular

Another interesting read: route 13th stage 2026 Vuelta.