Date | May 3-10, 2026 |
Distance | 815km |
Start location | Marín |
End location | Alto de l'Angliru |
UCI class | Women's WorldTour |
Previous edition | 2025 La Vuelta Femenina |
Previous winner | Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) |
La Vuelta Femenina information
The fourth edition of the modern La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es will take place from May 3-9, 2026. Organisers revealed the route as one of the most challenging in the event's existence, this year, tackling back-to-back summit finishes at Les Praeres. Nava and the famed Alto de l'Angliru.
The Spanish stage race has become the de facto third Grand Tour on the women's WorldTour calendar.
Last year, the new La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, was a seven-day stage race, while the previous eight editions of the event were known as the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta and held at the end of the season in September. The 2026 race will consist of seven stages.
The race started in 2015 as a one-day event, won by US sprinter Shelley Olds. The race was added to the Women's WorldTour the following year, where Jolien D'hoore won back-to-back editions in 2016 and 2017.
Expanding to a two-day race in 2018, Ellen van Dijk, then racing for Team Sunweb, claimed the overall title largely due to a commanding opening team time trial. Lisa Brennauer went on to win consecutive titles in 2019 as a two-day race and in 2020 when the race moved into a three-day format.
Annemiek van Vleuten then took three consecutive titles. At the 2021 race, she dominated the individual time trial and the mountain stage to secure overall victory. In 2022, the Movistar rider attacked on the Fuente las Varas, the penultimate climb of stage 2, and jumped into a lead she would carry to the conclusion on stage 5 in Madrid. In 2023, the seven-day race presented the riders with a challenging and mountainous event, where Van Vleuten claimed the overall title by just nine seconds over Demi Vollering after a thrilling battle for the red jersey.
In 2024, racing for SD Worx-ProTime, Demi Vollering captured two stage victories en route to claiming the overall title.
On the final stage, she had enough of a lead to high-five fans near the finish and lift her bike in celebration after crossing the line. Riejanne Markus (Visma-Lease A Bike) finished second overall, 1:49 in arrears, while Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) was third.
Vollering won again in 2025, this time for the FDJ-SUEZ team. She dominated the final mountain stage to Lagunas de Neila, winning alone with an attack and so securing her overall race lead.
She was joined on the podium by Marlen Reusser (Movistar), who finished second at 1:01. Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) was third overall at 1:16.
Join Cyclingnews for coverage of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina, and check in after each stage for our full report, results, gallery, news and features.
La Vuelta Femenina 2026 Route
The organisers of La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es have revealed one of the toughest routes in its 12-year history with a double-header finale in Asturias that will showcase summit finishes atop Les Praeres. Nava and the famed Alto de l'Angliru.
This year's race, which will take place from May 3 to May 9, will be held in Galicia. The 815km route will include four hilly stages, one flat stage and two mountain stages.
La Vuelta Femenina schedule
Stage | Start/Finish | Start time | Finish time |
Stage 1 | Marín to Salvaterra de Miño | Row 1 - Cell 2 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
Stage 2 | Lobios to San Cibrao das Viñas | Row 2 - Cell 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
Stage 3 | Padrón to A Coruña | Row 3 - Cell 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
Stage 4 | Monforte de Lemos to Antas de Ulla | Row 4 - Cell 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
Stage 5 | León to Astorga | Row 5 - Cell 2 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
Stage 6 | Gijón/XiXón to Les Praeres.Nava | Row 6 - Cell 2 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
Stage 7 | La Pola Llaviana / Pola de Lavianna to L'Angliru | Row 7 - Cell 2 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |