Vuelta 2026 Route stage 7: Vall dAlba

Vuelta 2026 Route stage 7: Vall d’Alba - Aramón Valdelinares

Friday 28 August - At 149.9 kilometres, stage 7 of La Vuelta takes the riders from Vall d’Alba to the ski station of Valdelinares. Following a rolling approach, the final 50 kilometres are virtually all uphill, with a total of around 3,500 metres of climbing on the menu.

The riders clip in at Vall d’Alba, around 100 kilometres north of Valencia and not far from the coast. Flat to rolling roads take them inland until they hit the Puerto de Remolcador, a 12-kilometre climb at 4.4%. Straight after the descent, the Alto de Zucaina adds another 5.3 kilometres at 4.8%.

The race continues in much the same vein, rolling westwards over undulating terrain, before an interesting finale reluctantly starts to take shape in the last 50 kilometres. Not only is the Alto Fuente de Rubielos – 6.1 kilometres at 6.1% – a touch tougher than the two previous hills, it also marks the start of a section that – apart from a few flat stretches and short descents – climbs almost continuously.

With 20 kilometres to go, the tension rises with an uncategorised stretch of 3.4 kilometres at 6.6%, which then flows straight onto the Puerto de San Rafael. The ascent measures 9.5 kilometres at 4.4%, with the final 1.7 kilometres ramping up to 7%.

After a short descent, the finishing climb to Valdelinares awaits, perched at 1,961 metres. The ascent to the ski resort is 8.3 kilometres long at an average gradient of 6.5%.

La Vuelta finished twice before in Valdelinares. Roberto Heras turned out on top in 2005, and Winner Anacona in 2014.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 7th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.