Vuelta 2026 Route stage 13: Almuñécar - Loja

Friday 4 September - Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España is a 193.2-kilometre hilly stage with a flat finish. Most of the climbing comes in the first 84 kilometres.

The stage gets under way in Almuñécar, the birthplace of Carlos Rodríguez. From there, the riders follow the Mediterranean coast to Salobreña before turning inland. The road soon begins to climb towards Guájar-Faragüit, leading into the day's first major test: the Puerto Los Guájares, a 14.5-kilometre ascent averaging 5.3%.

The descent is interrupted by a short climb to Pinos del Valle, before the Puerto Las Albuñuelas serves up 2.4 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.2%, with ramps reaching 15.8%. After a brief descent, the road continues uphill for a few more kilometres at gentler gradients before rolling on towards Padul.

Just beyond Padul, the route climbs the Alto de Legionario via a long, seemingly endless drag. It is never particularly steep, but it is relentlessly wearing. By the summit, the riders will have covered 84 kilometres, while most of the day's climbing is done and dusted by then.

A long descent leads to the Los Bermejales reservoir. An uncategorised climb then precedes a gently descending section towards Tocón, where the last climb of the day begins. The Puerto de Granada is an 11.7-kilometre ascent averaging 4.2%, with 37 kilometres remaining from the summit.

Most of those kilometres are downhill, and from Huétor-Tájar, 11.5 kilometres from the finish, the route is completely flat.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 13th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.