Vuelta a España 2026 Features First Full Stage in Andorra
Stage 4 on 25 August will be a 104.9km loop entirely within Andorra la Vella, billed as a short but brutal mountain test to shake up the GC early.
Key Points
- Stage 4: 104.9km Andorra la Vella loop with 1st-cat climbs Envalira (2409m), Beixalís, Ordino, and 3rd-cat Comella.
- Race starts 22 Aug in Monaco TT, hits Andorra on stage 4 after France stages, enters Spain on stage 5.
- Total: 21 stages, 3275km across 4 countries, ends Granada; designer calls Andorra 'short but demanding'.
- Andorra's 25th Vuelta appearance fulfills tourism pledge after 2025 stage win by Jay Vine.
La Vuelta a España 2026 will include a full stage entirely within Andorra for the first time in its history, with stage four on 25 August starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella over 104.9km.
Organisers describe the route as a "short but very tough" test, serving as the race's first major mountain stage and an early chance to shake up the general classification. Riders will head out from the capital along the CG-2, climbing to Port d'Envalira at 2,409m via Pas de la Casa. The descent leads to Encamp, followed by the Coll de Beixalís ascent toward Ordino in the northern Valira valley, then Coll d'Ordino in Canillo. The stage concludes with the Port de la Comella from Engolasters before a final drop into Andorra la Vella. Three climbs—Envalira, Beixalís and Ordino—are first-category, with Comella rated third-category.
The route was unveiled on Wednesday in Monaco, the site of the race's 22 August opening with a time trial entirely there. Stage two runs from Monaco to Manosque, stage three from Gruissan to Font-Romeu, before the peloton reaches Andorra. Stage five then moves to Spain, starting in Falset and ending in Roquetes.
Route designer and former cyclist Fernando Escartín highlighted the demands: "Andorra will set the tone early with a short but very demanding stage" amid one of the Vuelta's toughest editions, featuring later challenges like Valdelinares, Aitana and Peñas Blancas.
The 81st edition covers 21 stages and 3,275km across four countries, ending in Granada—the eighth different Spanish finale after Madrid, Bilbao and others. Race director Javier Guillén called it an edition with a "marked Mediterranean character," visiting historic towns and new climbs before culminating at the Alhambra.
Andorra's fully domestic stage follows last year's 28 August visit, where local resident Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates won solo at Pla de la Caubella. It marks the Principat's 25th Vuelta appearance since 1965, fulfilling Tourism Minister Jordi Torres's recent pledge for a full stage here.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: