Vuelta 2026 Favourites stage 5: For fast men #1

fotobureau Cor VosA stage with 1,662 metres of elevation gain – that's flat by Vuelta standards, making a first bunch sprint in a highly likely outcome. But before the sprinters can do what they do best, they'll have to get over a climb just 25 kilometres from the finish. (Slideshow route/profile)

Published: 18 August 2026
Last updated: 26 August - today's weather forecast

After a rolling opening, the riders head into a flatter middle section. The roads become more undulating again over the final 50 kilometres, with a 2.9-kilometre climb at 5.7% and the Alto de Paüls (3.5 kilometres at 7.1%) providing the main obstacles. Neither should pose too much of a problem for the type of sprinters lining up in Spain, though, so a bunch sprint in Roquetes looks the most likely outcome.

Should a sprinter be dropped on the Alto de Paüls, he will still have 24.9 kilometres to chase back into contention.

Favourites 5th stage 2026 Vuelta a España

*** Matthew Brennan, Kaden Groves, Jordi Meeus
** Mads Pedersen, Wout van Aert, Orluis Aular, Bryan Coquard
* Henri-François Haquin, Alberto Dainese, Vincenzo Albanese, Marc Brustenga

Another interesting read: route 5th stage 2026 Vuelta.

Weather forecast:
At the time of writing (08:00 CEST), it is raining heavily in the start town of Falset, but conditions are expected to be dry by the time the riders roll out at 13:20. The weather is only expected to improve as the day goes on, with temperatures reaching genuinely warm levels by the finish. The wind will be blowing diagonally against the riders for much of the day, including in the finale, which could lead to echelons.

Start: 27°C, sunny with some cloud, south-easterly wind (22 km/h)
Finish: 32°C, sunny, south-easterly wind (18 km/h)