Friday 4 September 2026 – Vuelta a España stage 13: Almuñécar → Loja (192.8 km)

Route

Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España starts in Almuñécar and finishes after 192.8 kilometres in Loja. The route is hilly: most of the climbing comes in the first 84 kilometres, with a total of 3,404 metres of climbing. After the early climbs, the profile flattens out towards the finish.

From the start, the peloton follows the Mediterranean coast to Salobreña, before the road turns inland. At km 17.1 the climb to Guájar-Faragüit and the Alto de la Venta de la Cebada (14.1 km at 5.1%) begins, a first-category climb with the summit at km 31.2. After the descent comes a short climb to Pinos del Valle and an uncategorised rise of 7.6 km at 4.4% towards Lecrín. The road then continues undulating towards Padul.

Beyond Padul begins the Alto del Legionario (15.4 km at 3.1%), a long and steady third-category climb with the summit at km 83.4. A long descent leads to the Los Bermejales reservoir. An uncategorised climb of 5.1 km at 3.5% precedes the final climb of the day: the Puerto de Granada (7.4 km at 5.6%), a second-category climb, with the summit at km 155.4 and 37.4 kilometres still to go. Most of the remaining stretch is downhill or flat towards Loja.

Final kilometres

From Huétor-Tájar, 11.9 kilometres from the line, the route is completely flat. Only the final kilometre climbs again: the closing metres, around 700 metres, climb at an average of 5% to the line in Loja. No technical corners in the finale, but a short burst of effort right before the line.

Recent editions

Loja is a stage finish in the Vuelta a España for the first time this year. There is therefore no previous result on this finish to look back on.

Scenarios

A day for the hill specialists: the short climb in the final kilometre is a chance for puncheurs and classics riders who can survive a short rise. Early breakaway riders also have a chance, as the climbing in the first 84 kilometres creates room for a strong breakaway group. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Christophe Laporte and Wout van Aert (both Team Visma | Lease a Bike) are named as contenders for the attack.

Local

Almuñécar is the birthplace of Carlos Rodríguez (Netcompany Ineos Cycling Team), who therefore starts the stage in his home region. Loja is a stage finish in the Vuelta a España for the first time; there are no previous results on this finish.

Weather forecast

Expected in Loja on Friday: sunny and very warm, with a maximum of 40.9°C and a minimum of 22.8°C. No precipitation is expected. In the finale there is a wind from the west-northwest with gusts of up to 17.5 km/h.

TV guide

• Eurosport 1 — 14:45
• HBO Max — 14:45