Vuelta 2026 Route stage 5: Falset – Roquetes

Wednesday 26 August - Stage 5 of the Vuelta a España strikes a balance between long flat stretches and punchy uphill sections. The 171.1-kilometre route includes roughly 1,700 metres of elevation gain.

We’re only at stage five, yet the riders are already in need of a breather — at least, that’s what we’d think after the monster day in Andorra. That breather comes in the form of a relatively straightforward stage, which should suit the fast men.

The route opens on descent before continuing on rolling terrain and dozens of kilometres of flat roads. Then, with roughly 50 kilometres to go, the road rises for 2.9 kilometres at 5.7%. Shortly afterwards, a similar bump appears, and then another, before the Alto de Pauls offers the only chance for those keen on wearing polka-dots to pick up some mountain points.

The Alto de Pauls crests just over 24 kilometres from the finish. It is 3.5 kilometres long at an average gradient of 7.2%, with ramps reaching 12.2%. After the descent, the fast men who lost contact with the peloton on the climb have roughly 10 kilometres to rejoin and contest the stage win.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 5th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.