Vuelta 2026 Route stage 15: Palma del Río - Córdoba

Sunday 6 September - Stage 15 of the Vuelta could be a scorcher. Quite literally. Over 181.2 kilometres, the riders cross the heart of Andalusia from Palma del Río to Córdoba, tackling around 2,800 metres of climbing along the way.

The Vuelta last visited Córdoba in 2024. A climb in the final 30 kilometres thinned out the peloton before Wout van Aert, in outstanding form throughout that edition, powered to an emphatic sprint victory.

This year's finale is not identical, but it follows a similar pattern. Once again, the riders face a climb inside the final 30 kilometres. The Puerto Artafi is a steady 5.9-kilometre ascent averaging 5.7%. As in 2024, the road does not descend immediately from the summit. Instead, it continues across a plateau for a few kilometres before finally dropping towards the flat finale.

A repeat of the 2024 scenario seems entirely possible, with the breakaway being reeled in before the Puerto Artafi, followed by attacks from riders looking to go clear, while others try to keep the race together for a reduced bunch sprint.

The terrain leading up to the Artafi is typical of this part of Spain. The riders spend much of the day rolling through undulating olive groves. The road briefly becomes more demanding on the Puerto de Mojón Blanco (34.5 kilometres in) and the Alto Villaviciosa de Córdoba (121.5 kilometres in), but neither climb is likely to have much of an impact. All signs point to the race only coming to life on the approach to the Puerto Artafi.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 15th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.