When does the Vuelta a España 2026 start: dates, favorites, route, and how to watch

The Vuelta a España 2026 kicks off on August 22 in Monaco and will finish on September 13 in Granada after 21 stages, two rest days, and a route of 3,275 kilometers with more than 58,000 meters of total ascent. The 81st edition features a very mountainous course that will travel from Monaco to Andalusia, practically following the Mediterranean, with seven mountain stages, two individual time trials, and a decisive final week in southern Spain.

More than 58,000 meters of ascent and seven mountain stages: route of La Vuelta 2026

La Vuelta 2026 will have an unusual route. Monaco, France, and Andorra will occupy the first four days of racing before the peloton enters Spain to begin a long journey south that will end in Granada. There will be no Asturias, Madrid, or practically any central area, and instead, Andalusia will concentrate the last ten stages.

The race will start with a 9-kilometer individual time trial in Monaco, but the general classification will start to take shape much earlier than usual. Stage 3 will finish in Font Romeu, and the following day will bring an explosive day of just 105 kilometers through Andorra with Envalira, Beixalís, Ordino, and La Comella.

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The 2026 Vuelta modifies the queen stage in Granada: Hazallanas gives way to El Duque

After entering Spain, Valdelinares and, above all, the Alto de Aitana will appear. The latter will close the first week after a stage with six climbs and more than 5,000 meters of accumulated ascent that should provide the first truly important reference among the candidates for the red jersey.

The second week will lead the peloton to Andalusia and will again load the mountainous route with Velefique and Calar Alto in stage 12 and Sierra de la Pandera in stage 14. From there, a final week will begin with several completely different terrains and practically no margin to recover lost time.

The 32.5-kilometer time trial between El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez will arrive in stage 18 and will be the last major time trial before two consecutive days of mountain.

First will come Peñas Blancas and then the queen stage of this edition. The penultimate day will finish at the Collado del Alguacil, with 8.3 kilometers at 9.8%, after two passes through El Purche and one through El Duque. The latter replaced Hazallanas after the damage caused by storms prevented maintaining the initially presented route.

This will be the last opportunity to change the general classification before a different finish. Granada will replace Madrid as the closing venue with a short stage of 99.4 kilometers and an urban circuit around the city and the Alhambra.

Pogačar faces the opportunity to win the only Grand Tour that eludes him

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will be the man to beat. The Slovenian returns to La Vuelta seven years after finishing third in 2019, and he does so with the chance to complete his collection of Grand Tours after already winning the Giro and Tour. Additionally, he will arrive accompanied by a high-level UAE team in which João Almeida even offers a second option for the general classification.

Among his main rivals, Primož Roglič is expected, a four-time winner and with the opportunity to become the cyclist with the most victories in the history of La Vuelta if he achieves a fifth. Enric Mas, three times second, will again focus a good part of his season on the Spanish race.

Behind them is a large group of contenders, including Mattias Skjelmose, Felix Gall, Mikel Landa, Carlos Rodríguez, or Matthew Riccitello, riders who will find plenty of terrain to try to get into the fight for the podium.

And outside the battle for the general classification, the presence of Wout van Aert adds another of the great attractions of an edition in which he will have numerous opportunities in broken stages and explosive finishes.

How to watch La Vuelta a España 2026

In Spain, La Vuelta a España 2026 can be followed for free through RTVE and RTVE Play. Additionally, Eurosport and HBO Max will offer the race with daily coverage.

Dates and times of each stage

The complete departure and arrival times are not yet available. We will update this section when the organization publishes the final route book.

22/08 – Stage 1 (TT): Monaco - Monaco | 9 km
23/08 – Stage 2: Monaco - Manosque | 215.2 km
24/08 – Stage 3: Gruissan - Font Romeu | 166.7 km
25/08 – Stage 4: Andorra la Vella - Andorra la Vella | 104.9 km
26/08 – Stage 5: Falset - Roquetes | 171.1 km
27/08 – Stage 6: Alcossebre - Castellón | 176.8 km
28/08 – Stage 7: Vall d'Alba - Aramón Valdelinares | 149.9 km
29/08 – Stage 8: Puçol - Xeraco | 176.4 km
30/08 – Stage 9: La Vila Joiosa/Villajoyosa - Alto de Aitana | 187.5 km
31/08 – Rest day
01/09 – Stage 10: Alcaraz - Elche de la Sierra | 184.5 km
02/09 – Stage 11: Cartagena - Lorca | 156.1 km
03/09 – Stage 12: Vera - Calar Alto | 166.5 km
04/09 – Stage 13: Almuñécar - Loja | 193.2 km
05/09 – Stage 14: Jaén - Sierra de la Pandera | 152.7 km
06/09 – Stage 15: Palma del Río - Córdoba | 181.2 km
07/09 – Rest day
08/09 – Stage 16: Cortegana - La Rábida. Palos de la Frontera | 186 km
09/09 – Stage 17: Dos Hermanas - Sevilla | 189.2 km
10/09 – Stage 18 (TT): El Puerto de Santa María - Jerez de la Frontera | 32.5 km
11/09 – Stage 19: Vélez-Málaga - Peñas Blancas. Estepona | 205.1 km
12/09 – Stage 20: La Calahorra - Collado del Alguacil | 187 km
13/09 – Stage 21: Carrefour Granada - Granada | 99.4 km