Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 14: Another feast for the climbers

fotobureau Cor VosIt's back to the climbers on La Vuelta's 14th stage. After spending the entire day riding either uphill or downhill, the riders face an average gradient of 7.2% over the final 11.9 kilometres in the Sierra de la Pandera. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 21 August 2026

Another chance for Pogacar to add another stage win to his tally, one would argue. And, if he is not interested, the attackers will have their chance. Perhaps the world champion will give one of his teammates a free run at the victory.

The 154.5-kilometre stage with 4,338 metres of elevation gain starts relatively gently. After a rolling loop from and back to the start town of Jaén, the first categorised climbs don't come until the second half. After the Puerto los Villares (10.5 kilometres at 5.4%), the riders tackle the Puerto de Locubín (8.7 kilometres at 5.1%) before continuing on to the foot of the Sierra de la Pandera. The final climb rises for 11.4 kilometres at an average gradient of 7.2%. As is so often the case in Spain, it is an irregular climb, with several sections at double-digit gradients.

Carapaz is the only active rider who knows what it feels like to win at the Sierra de la Pandera. He did so from the breakaway in 2022. With another stage win, the Ecuadorian would become the only rider ever to win there twice.

Which riders from the breakaway have a chance of winning the stage depends on the standings, so we will update this article during the Vuelta.

Favourites 14th stage 2026 Vuelta a España

*** Tadej Pogacar, Sepp Kuss, Richard Carapaz, Jay Vine
** João Almeida, Oscar Onley, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Mattias Skjelmose
* Santiago Buitrago, Andreas Leknessund, Bruno Armirail, Will Barta, Lorenzo Fortunato

Another interesting read: route 14th stage 2026 Vuelta.

Vuelta a España 2026 stage 14: routes & profiles

profile

route

Sierra de la Pandera

final run-in