Vuelta a España 2026 stage 19 preview
September 11: Vélez-Málaga - Peñas Blancas. Estepona, 21km (Hilly) Uphill finish
- Stage 19: Vélez-Málaga - Peñas Blancas. Estepona
- Date: September 11, 2026
- Distance: 210.8km
- Elevation gain: 3,987
- Start time: 12:06 CEST
- Finish time: 17:14 CEST
Stage details
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At 210.8 kilometres, stage 19 is one of the longest stages of the Vuelta a España, and will be prime breakaway hunting terrain but the final first category climb could also launch a GC battle.
Leaving Vélez-Málaga on the Costa del Sol, the route follows the coast for 10 kilometres to Málaga before turning inland. The first major ascent comes 70 kilometres further in as the race enters the Serranía de Ronda. Two second category climbs in quick succession, Puerto de Las Abejas and Puerto del Viento, will soften legs, followed by more climbing over the next 63 kilometres.
Then a 23-kilometre descent brings the riders back to the coast at San Pedro de Alcántara, where they will follow the Mediterranean for around 20 kilometres before tackling the decisive final climb to Peñas Blancas which returns three years after Richard Carapaz’s victory in 2022.
Climbs
- Puerto de Las Abejas (cat. 2, 14.5km at 4.3%), km. 91
- Puerto del Viento (cat. 3, 13.1km at 3.7%), km. 111.3
- Peñas Blancas. Estepona (cat. 1, 18.7km at 6.5%), km. 210.8
Sprints
Sprints
- Estepona, km. 186.1
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Lyne has been involved in professional cycling for more than 15 years in both news reporting and sports marketing. She founded Podium Insight in 2008, quickly becoming a trusted source for news of the North American professional cycling world. She was the first to successfully use social media to consistently provide timely and live race updates for all fans. She is proud to have covered men's and women's news equally during her tenure at the helm of the site. Her writing has appeared on Cyclingnews and other news sites.
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