Vuelta 2026: Route & rumours

The Vuelta a España gets underway on 22 August with an individual time trial in Monaco. The rest of the route is stil under wraps, although there is talk of summit finishes at the Alto de La Pandera and Peñas Blancas above Estepona. Córdoba is also expected to return as a stage finish, while the Vuelta is likely to conclude in Granada.

The opening stage is a 9.6-kilometre individual time trial winding its way through the tiny tax haven. The following day, the riders leave Monaco and head into France, finishing in a destination that has yet to be confirmed. Nothing at all is known about the remainder of the first week.

There are, however, some rumours about how the route will look in the second and third week. In the second week, there is expected to be a stage from Palma del Río to Córdoba, where Wout van Aert triumphed two editions ago. A return to the Alto de La Pandera is also said to be on the cards. The final climb is 8.4 kilometres long at an average gradient of 7.8%, with the steepest kilometre pitching up to 12%. Four editions ago, Richard Carapaz triumped at La Pandera from the break.

The day after the second rest day, stage 16 runs from Cortegana to La Rábida, while in stage 18 the riders tackle the Sierra Bermeja en route to the Alto de Peñas Blancas. The climb in the mountains above Estepona amounts to 19 kilometres at 6.7%. In 2022, Richard Carapaz and Wilco Kelderman put on an enthralling show on its slopes, with the Ecuadorian taking the win.

The final two stages are reportedly set to finish in Granada, and it seems likely that the nearby Sierra Nevada will play a key role.

The route for the 2026 Vuelta a España will be unveiled in Madrid on Wednesday.