Tuesday 1 September – Vuelta a España stage 10: Alcaraz → Elche de la Sierra (184.7 km)

Route

Stage 10 of the Vuelta a España 2026 runs from Alcaraz to Elche de la Sierra, 184.7 kilometres away in the province of Albacete. The stage is hilly but without heavy elevation gain: the peloton racks up a total of 2,669 metres of climbing. Three categorised climbs lie on the route, all third category.

The stage starts immediately with a climb out of Alcaraz, the uncategorised Puerto de las Cruces, with a steeper final section of 3.2 kilometres at 5%. After the descent to Ríopar, the first categorised climb follows at km 47.6: Puerto del Peralejo (5.2 km at 4.3%). No descent follows, but more than 20 kilometres of rolling terrain to Ayna. From km 86.3 the peloton climbs the Puerto de Ayna (7.7 km at 4%), after which the road gradually descends towards Hellín.

In the final 50 kilometres the profile remains unsettled, with an uncategorised rise of 8.1% as the most notable point. The last categorised climb is the Puerto de Socovos (9.7 km at 3.5%), with the summit at km 163.2, 21.4 kilometres from the finish. After the descent there is a short climb of 1.7 kilometres at 5.5%, before the final 4.5 kilometres gradually rise to the finish in Elche de la Sierra.

Final kilometres

After the summit of the Puerto de Socovos, with 21.4 kilometres still to go, the road descends towards Socovos and Férez. At Villares (3.4 km from the finish) the last bend is passed before the road definitively rises. The final 4.5 kilometres climb gradually to the finish in Elche de la Sierra, without a flat section.

Recent editions

Elche de la Sierra is hosting a stage finish in the Vuelta a España for the first time. The town was, however, the backdrop for the start of stage 3 of the Vuelta Femenina in 2023, a windy stage with crosswinds that ended in a sprint win for Marianne Vos (Team DSM). The Vuelta did finish in the province of Albacete before: in 2021 Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) won a sprint in the city of Albacete, after a stage known for its crosswinds.

Scenarios

A day for early breakaway riders: the rolling road and the absence of a hard obstacle leave room for an escape. Puncheurs and classics riders can also benefit from the short climbs in the finale. Resilient sprinters who survive the climbs still stand a chance in a regrouping before the final 4.5 kilometres uphill.

Local

Elche de la Sierra (province of Albacete) is on the map of the Vuelta a España as a finish town for the first time. According to procyclingstats.com, no riders are registered as born in the town. Starting town Alcaraz, known for its historic centre with the Cerro de Alcaraz, has likewise produced no active professionals. The stage crosses the Sierra del Segura, the region around the Segura river.

Weather forecast

Expected on Tuesday in Elche de la Sierra: plenty of sunshine with a maximum of 29.9°C and a minimum of 19.7°C. No rain is expected, the day remains dry. In the final 50 km there is an easterly wind with gusts of up to 18.9 km/h.

TV guide

• HBO Max — from 14:45