Vuelta a España 2026

The 2026 Vuelta a España kicks off in just a few days now, with three weeks between Monaco and Granada set to decide the third and final men's Grand Tour winner of the year.

The Vuelta route is set, the start list is coming together, and soon the battle for red will be on.

The biggest story pre-race is definitely the fact that Tadej Pogačar will take part for the first time since 2019 in his search to complete his Grand Tour set, and in the process has probably set himself up as the out-and-out favourite.

To kick off our countdown to the race, we have analysed the top 10 GC contenders, including who might come closest to challenging Pogačar and who is aiming for the top five and top 10.

Our Vuelta expert Alasdair Fotheringham has also taken a closer look at the key stages that will decide the Vuelta, featuring some seriously spicy climbs and the races' first foray onto gravel.

We'll have plenty more countdown content during the week, including experts columns, route analysis, an interview with Pogačar's coach, and more.

On this page, you'll also find the full route, timetable and history of the race, but daily stage previews, and of course all our usual results, news analysis, including from our team of experts on the ground.

Important Vuelta a España news

• Primož Roglič expected to race the Vuelta a España but with no GC ambitions
• Major changes of crunch 2026 Vuelta a España mountain stage set to test Tadej Pogačar and other top GC contenders
• An altitude camp, 20-minute power PB, and abandoning Burgos - Inside the preparation for my first Grand Tour

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Vuelta a España start list

Vuelta a España information

The 81st edition of the Vuelta a España will take place from Saturday August 22 to Sunday September 13, 2026 with confirmation that Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar will be competing for the first time since his debut in 2019.

The complete race route for the 2026 Vuelta a España will total 3,283.7 kilometres with 58,156 metres of elevation gain, making it one of the most challenging editions of the Spanish Grand Tour to date. The three-week stage race will visit four countries - Andorra, Monaco, France and Spain - with 16 provinces crossed in Spain on a path that hugs the Mediterranean coast.

The Grand Départ takes place in Monaco with a 9.6km individual time trial and the final stage will finish in the historic city of Granada, becoming the eighth city in the 81 editions of the race to crown the overall winner. A route presentation event was held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 to confirm all 21 stages. See the full details on our route page for the 2026 Vuelta a España.

In 2025, the Vuelta started in Piemonte, Italy, with three stages, including a mountain finish at Limone Piemonte on stage 2. Stage 4 headed into the French Alps for another mountain stage. In fact, the race crossed through four countries, including Italy, Andorra, France, and Spain.

In 2024, Primož Roglič won a fourth Vuelta a España title in the 2024 edition, sealing his fifth Grand Tour title in the last six years with a second-place finish in the final stage time trial in Madrid.

In 2025, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was crowned the overall winner despite a series of Pro-Palestinian protests disrupting the race and especially the final stage to central Madrid.

João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was second overall at 1:16 and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) was third at 3:11.

Vuelta a España schedule

Vuelta a España records

Most overall wins: Roberto Heras (four); Primoz Roglič (four), Tony Rominger, Alberto Contador (three).

Most stage wins: Delio Rodríguez (39); Alessandro Petacchi (20); Laurent Jalabert, Rik van Looy (18); Sean Kelly (16); Gerben Karstens (14); Tony Rominger, Freddy Maertens (13); Primoz Roglič, Alejandro Valverde (12).

Most mountain classification wins: Jose Luis Laguía (five); David Moncoutie, Jose María Jiménez (four each); Julio Jiménez, Anthony Karmany, Andres Oliva (three each).

Most points classification wins: Sean Kelly, Laurent Jalabert, Alejandro Valverde (four each); Erik Zabel (three).

Most starts: Inigo Cuesta (17).

Youngest winner: Angelino Soler, 1961 (21 years and 167 days).

Oldest winner: Chris Horner, 2013 (41 years and 327 days).

Smallest margin of victory: Erik Caritoux, 1984 (six seconds).

Largest margin of victory: Delio Rodríguez, 1945 (30:08).

Fastest edition: 2001 (42.534 kph average)