La Vuelta Ciclista a España
Stage 12Vera → Calar Alto
A large breakaway shaped the stage on the long mountain route to Calar Alto. Jakob Omrzel stayed clear when the move split on the final climb and rode away alone for his first Grand Tour stage win.
The GC teams lifted the pace late, with attacks on Alto de Velefique and again on Calar Alto. Enric Mas kept the red jersey after the final climbs did not change the overall lead.
Route and what to expect
La Vuelta a España 2026 runs from August 22 to September 13, opening with a 9.4km individual time trial in Monaco and finishing in Granada three weeks later. It is a punishing edition even by this race's standards, with more than 58,000 metres of climbing spread across six mountain stages, four medium mountain days and five hilly stages. Only four stages give the sprinters a clear chance.
Stage 4 crosses Andorra in just over 100km, with the Port d'Envalira rising straight from the start line, and stage 9 climbs 22km to the Alto de Aitana. Week two turns on the Calar Alto summit finish on stage 12 and the Sierra de La Pandera on stage 14. A 32km time trial into Jerez on stage 18 is the last flat test before Peñas Blancas and the Collado del Alguacil, 8km at 9.8%, settle the red jersey on stage 20.
Tadej Pogačar starts as the overwhelming favourite, chasing the one Grand Tour he has never won, with Richard Carapaz, Felix Gall, Oscar Onley and Mattias Skjelmose heading the chase. For broadcasters, prices, free streams and stage start times in your country, read our full guide to how to watch La Vuelta a España 2026.