Vuelta 2026: Route and stages
The Grand Départ of the 81st edition of La Vuelta a España will take place in Monaco on Saturday 22 August, which marks the third consecutive foreign start. Stage 1 is a 9.4-kilometre individual time trial held entirely on Monegasque territory. From there, the red caravan heads through southern France and Andorra into Spain. The bulk of the route runs through the scorching south, before the Vuelta concludes in Granada on Sunday 13 September.
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Vuelta 2026: Riders
Two years after winning the Vuelta for the fourth time, record holder Primoz Roglic returns to Spain in a bid to reclaim his crown. It won't be easy as Tadej Pogacar is also competing. Who else is on the start list?
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Cycling Calendar 2026
Throughout the year, Cyclingstage.com covers the races we are passionate about – including the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, but there's so much more… Please take a look at our 2026 cycling calendar!
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Vuelta 2026: Route
La Vuelta a España gets under way on 22 August with an individual time trial in Monaco and concludes on 13 September in Granada. In between, the riders will tackle a series of summit finishes, including Calar Alto, La Pandera, Peñas Blancas and the fearsome Collada de Alguacil in the Sierra Nevada. Six mountain stages in total ensure a feast for the climbers.
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Vuelta 2026 Route stage 1: Monaco - Monaco
Saturday 22 August – The Tour of Spain opens with an individual time trial through the streets of Monaco. The course is 9.6 kilometres long.
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Vuelta 2026 Route stage 2: Monaco – Manosque
Sunday 23 August - Stage 2 of La Vuelta covers 215.2 kilometres between Monaco and Manosque. Although the riders tackle only two classified climbs along the way, the route still features more than 3,000 metres of elevation gain.
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Vuelta 2026 Route stage 3: Gruisan – Font Romeu
Monday 24 August – Stage 3 of the Vuelta is a relatively short ride of 166.7 kilometres. On paper it is the first truly demanding stage, one that will put the riders with GC ambitions on alert. The elevation gain totals roughly 2,600 metres, most of which in the last 35 kilometres.
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