La Vuelta starts all over again on the brutal stage 9: Aitana opens up a new race after Pogačar’s withdrawal

The ninth stage of the Vuelta a España 2026 completely changes context after the withdrawal of Tadej Pogačar. What just a day ago seemed like another favorable scenario for the Slovenian now becomes the first major battle for a completely open general classification. It will be 187.4 kilometers and almost 5,000 meters of ascent before a final climb of 22 kilometers to the Alto de Aitana.

Stage 9 of the Vuelta 2026: almost 5,000 meters of elevation gain and finish at the Alto de Aitana

• Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026
• Start: Villajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa
• Finish: Alto de Aitana
• Distance: 187.4 km
• Type of stage: mountain
• Start time: 12:26
• Estimated arrival: between 17:14 and 17:47
• Total ascent: around 4,950 m
• Puerto de Tárbena: 2nd category, 7.2 km at 5.4%
• Miserat: 1st category, 5.2 km at 10%
• Tollos: 3rd category, 4.1 km at 5.8%
• Puerto de Tudons: 2nd category, 7 km at 5.3%
• Puerto de Benifallim: 2nd category, 4.8 km at 5.8%
• Alto de Aitana: 1st category, 22 km at 5.8%
• Favorites: Enric Mas, Felix Gall, Primož Roglič, Richard Carapaz, Sepp Kuss, and Oscar Onley

  

A very tough day before the final 22 kilometers of Aitana

The stage will start on broken terrain and will practically offer no rest throughout the day. The first major climb will be the Puerto de Tárbena, which could serve to form a high-level breakaway before facing one of the day's major traps.

The Miserat, with 5.2 kilometers at 10%, will be the first really serious test. Its gradient could cause significant selection even while still far from the finish.

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Next will come Tollos, Tudons, and Benifallim, chaining climbs and descents until leaving the peloton with very little margin to recover before the finish.

With 22 kilometers to go, the Alto de Aitana will begin, the longest climb of this edition so far. Its average gradient of 5.8% may seem moderate, but the profile clearly hardens in the second half.

About six kilometers from the finish, one of the most demanding sections appears, with an average close to 9.4%, and from there the road maintains percentages close to 8% until the arrival. After almost 5,000 meters of accumulated elevation gain, it could become a particularly selective finish.

Mas debuts in red with a completely open general classification

The withdrawal of Pogačar has completely changed the scenario. Enric Mas arrives as the new leader, with Felix Gall at 1:11 and Primož Roglič at 1:33, so Movistar goes from chasing to having to defend the race.

Mas has been one of the strongest riders in the mountains during this first week and starts as one of the main references, but now he will have to manage a completely different situation. Gall, Roglič, Carapaz, Kuss, and Onley are close enough to change the general classification with a single attack in Aitana.

The very toughness of the route may also give options to the breakaway. UAE, freed from the responsibility of defending the red after Pogačar's withdrawal, can switch to a much more offensive strategy with Jay Vine, João Almeida, or Pablo Torres.

Riders like Jarno Widar, Ramses Debruyne, Tobias Halland Johannessen, Valentin Paret-Peintre, or Santiago Buitrago may also seek the stage if they manage to get into a breakaway with enough margin.

The big difference compared to previous days is that now no team has a leader clearly superior to the rest. With Mas, Gall, and Roglič separated by just over a minute and a half, Aitana could become the first major turning point of the new Vuelta that begins after Pogačar's withdrawal.