Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 3: Attackers on uphill finish

fotobureau Cor VosEven 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. (Slideshow route/profile)

First published on 16 August 2026

If the GC leader so wishes, stage 3 is an ideal opportunity to hand the red jersey to a rider in the breakaway. This can be achieved simply by allowing the break to build up such a sizeable lead during the flat opening section that they cannot be caught on the two climbs towards the finish. The first is the Col de Mont-Louis (19.4 kilometres at 4.8%), followed by the climb to the line in Font-Romeu (9.8 kilometres at 5%).

The Col de Mont-Louis officially starts 35.8 kilometres from the finish, but in all honesty, the road has already been heading uphill for dozens of kilometres by then. You could even argue that the climbing starts in Ille-sur-Têt, with roughly 70 kilometres still to race. Admittedly, it is all false flat, but it still counts.

How the race unfolds will depend on the overall standings; we will therefore update this article during La Vuelta.

Favourites 3rd stage 2026 Vuelta a España

*** Santiago Buitrago, Mikel Landa, Iván Romeo, Jan Hirt
** Luke Tuckwell, Pablo Castrillo, Max Poole, Jarno Widar, Valentin Paret-Peintre
* Tadej Pogacar, Pavel Sivakov, Jesús Herrada, Nairo Quintana, Cristián Rodríguez

Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2026 Vuelta.