Distance: 147.7km
Category: High mountains
Highest point: 1,795m
The third Pyrenean stage may be the easiest of the trio but it still packs quite a finishing punch on the long climb up to the resort of Formigal. Given what's gone just before, the GC contenders are likely hold back until the final climb and may not concern themselves with chasing down the break of the day, which will give an opportunity to those teams that have hitherto missed out. None of the day's climbs are especially testing, although Formigal is significant as it was the location of the Vuelta's first road stage summit finish back in 1972, when José Manuel Fuente's triumph put him on the way to overall victory. The race has been back twice since, Spaniards winning again on both occasions.Last year's Vuelta also featured a stage on the plains of Aragón to Jaca, where Joaquim Rodríguez led up the final steep ramp.
-
Critérium du Dauphiné stage 6 live - first major summit finish showdown set to test GC challengers
Double Cat.2 ascent finale and mid-stage Cat.1 climb biggest challenges of this year's Dauphiné so far -
Has the UCI just banned Factor's new aero bike before it was even released?
Hoard of new rules include handlebar width, wheel depth and fork leg limits as Hope x Lotus track bike set to be banned -
'If he can follow Pogačar and Vingegaard here, we will go for more than third at the Tour' – crunch time for Remco Evenepoel at Critérium du Dauphiné
Soudal-QuickStep DS says final trio of mountain stages will determine Belgian's approach and goals for the Tour de France -
'The door is wide open' – OneCycling project aiming to maintain momentum despite 2026 WorldTour exclusion
Sources close to OneCycling insist UCI could yet become involved in ongoing plans
