The 2026 Vuelta a España begins this week as one of cycling’s most challenging and unpredictable grand tours gets underway. The race starts in Monaco and winds through France and Andorra before entering Spain, with the final stage concluding in Granada on September 13th. The course features mountainous terrain throughout, including six summit finishes, nine hilly or medium-mountain stages, and two individual time trials, making it particularly suited to elite climbers.
Tadej Pogacar headlines the competition after his dominant Tour de France victory this summer. The Slovenian rider returns to the Vuelta for the first time since 2019, seeking to complete his collection of all three grand tour victories. He will be supported by strong teammates including last year’s second-place finisher Joao Almeida and Jay Vine. Other notable contenders include Primoz Roglic, who is targeting a record fifth title, and Wout van Aert leading Visma-Lease a Bike in place of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, who withdrew from the race following injuries sustained at the Tour de France.
The route presents formidable challenges with nearly 60,000 meters of elevation gain across the three weeks. Southern Spain’s intense heat, particularly through Andalusia, adds another layer of difficulty. The race begins with a nine-kilometer individual time trial through Monaco’s streets before progressing through increasingly demanding mountain stages. Stage 20 emerges as the queen stage, featuring the debut appearance of the Collado del Alguacil climb, a challenging new addition to the race that could prove decisive in determining the overall winner.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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