Vuelta 2026 Route stage 9: La Villa Joiosa - Alto de Aitana

Sunday 30 August - The 9th stage of the Vuelta a España serves up more than 5,100 metres of climbing over a 187.4‑kilometre course. The final 22 kilometres feature the toil up the Alto de Aitana, a climb averaging 5.8%.

Last updated: 30 August 2026 – link to the results added

Race type: mountain stage
Likely winner: climbers, GC riders
Weather forecast: sunny, hardly any wind

The riders get little respite throughout the day. Right from the start, the road rises for 3.1 kilometres at 4.4%. The asphalt then continues climbing for a few more kilometres before finally dropping — but only for a short while.

Up and down, up and down, it’s an opening where potential breakaway riders can really let loose. An uncategorised stretch of 1.7 kilometres at 6.3% leads into the first climb offering KOM points, the Puerto de Tárbena: 7.2 kilometres at 5.4%. Again, there is no immediate descent. First, the Coll de Rates adds another 1.5 kilometres at 6.2% before the riders finally get some relief in the form of a descent.

After 56 kilometres, the riders pass through Orba, and after a rolling section they tackle the Puerto El Miserat, a monster of 5.2 kilometres at 10%. Ready to descend? Not yet. Another 13 kilometres of undulating terrain brings them to the Port de Tollos, a 4-kilometre climb at 5.7%.

By the Tollos, the riders are roughly halfway. A descent with a few uphill kicks leads to the base of the Port de Tudons. On paper, it’s a straightforward climb of 7 kilometres at 5.3%, but that’s relative, considering what has already been done and what still lies ahead.

Immediately after the descent comes the Port de Benifallim, 4.8 kilometres at an average of 5.8%. The summit sits 47.5 kilometres from the finish, and many riders will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that half the remaining distance is downhill. There is a small climb of 2.4 kilometres at 5.3% roughly 5 kilometres into the descent, but after that, it’s downhill all the way to the foot of the finish climb.

The climb to the line is a monster. It starts with the Port de Tudons and finishes on a road that is usually closed — military terrain — as the riders make their way to the summit of the Alto de Aitana. The climb stretches a total of 22 kilometres, averaging 5.8%. Just after leaving the Tudons, the sixth kilometre from the summit is the toughest, with an average gradient of 9.4%. Indeed, from that point onwards, the gradient hardly drops below 8% all the way to the summit.

Ten editions ago, the Vuelta also finished atop the Alto de Aitana. The then 22-year-old Pierre Latour soloed to victory. In hindsight, it remains the biggest win of the retired Frenchman’s career. Latour followed in the footsteps of Damiano Cunego, who was victorious on the Aitana in 2009.

The first three riders across the line gain 10, 6 and 4 seconds of time bonuses, while 6, 4 and 2 seconds are available at the intermediate sprint at the Puerto de Benifallim.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 9th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.

Another interesting read: results 9th stage 2026 Vuelta a España.