Vuelta 2026 Route stage 4: Andorra La Vella – Andorra La Vella

Tuesday 25 August – La Vuelta does not dilly-dally. As early as Stage 4, a thriller awaits, starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella. It is ultra-short at just over 104 kilometres, but ultra-tough, with four climbs and a downhill finish on a route featuring 2,953 metres of elevation gain.

Last updated: 25 August 2026 – link to the results added

It is bound to be brutal. The flag drops and the road pitches skywards. The first mountain of the day appears from the start. The Port d’Envalira drags on for over 23 kilometres at an average gradient of 5.1%, with ramps up to 12%. The most punishing sections come in the final third of the climb.

After a 25.4-kilometre descent, the Collada de Beixalis awaits. Less daunting because it's relatively short, but still far from gentle. The Beixalis measures 6.5 kilometres at an average of 8.5%, with gradients hitting 16%. Auch!

There is little respite before the road heads uphill once more. The Col d’Ordino offers 9.9 kilometres at an average gradient of 7%. At the summit, there are still 26.1 kilometres to go, most of which are downhill.

The riders fly towards the finish in Andorra la Vella, but just before reaching the Andorran capital, the organisers throw one last challenge in their path. The Alto de la Comella is a mere 3.9 kilometres in length, and the average gradient doable: 5.9%.

From the Comella, a 4-kilometre descent leads straight to the finish, where Sepp Kuss made his mark at the 2021 Tour de France, and where Vincenzo Nibali took a stage win in the 2017 Vuelta.

The first three riders across the finish line gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds; at the intermediate sprint atop the Alto de La Comella, 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 4th stage.

Another interesting read: results 4th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.