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 173.3-kilometre route includes roughly 1,700 metres of elevation gain.

Last updated: 26 August 2026 – links to the results added

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 to pick up some mountain points.

The Alto de Pauls crests 24.9 kilometres from the finish. It is 3.5 kilometres long at an average gradient of 7.1%, 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.

For those eyeing the stage win: the road rises gently over the final 800 metres.

The first three riders across the line receive 10, 6 and 4 seconds of time bonuses, while 6, 4 and 2 seconds are up for grabs at the intermediate sprint in Tivenys.

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

Another interesting read: results 5th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.