Sunday 6 September 2026 – Vuelta a España stage 15: Palma del Río → Córdoba (189.7 km)

Route

Stage 15 of the 2026 Vuelta a España takes the peloton from Palma del Río to Córdoba, 189.7 kilometres further on. It is the last stage before the second rest day. The route features 3,525 metres of climbing, spread over three third-category climbs. The character is hilly: no long cols, but constant ups and downs through the olive groves of Andalusia.

After 27.8 kilometres, the Puerto de la Forestal (6.7 km at 4.1%) begins, with its highest point at km 34.5. At km 115.8, the Alto de Villaviciosa de Córdoba (5.8 km at 4.8%) starts, cresting at km 121.5. The third and final climb, the Puerto Artafi (5.9 km at 5.6%), begins at km 147.2 and peaks at km 153.1, 36.6 kilometres from the finish.

After the top of the Artafi, the road doesn't descend immediately. The route first continues for a few kilometres across a plateau, before the descent towards Córdoba begins. The intermediate sprint is at km 158.4, 31.3 kilometres from the line. From there, the road is flat all the way to the finish.

Final kilometres

After the intermediate sprint 31.3 kilometres from the finish, the route remains flat to slightly downhill. At 18.3 kilometres from the line, the race turns into the final bend towards Córdoba. The last 13.5 kilometres run via Avda. del Brillante, Avda. de los Piconeros, Avda. de la Igualdad, Avda. Carlos III, Avda. de Libia, Avda. Compositor Rafael Castro and Avda. Campo de la Verdad to the finish on Avda. Vallellano. These closing kilometres are flat and wide, suited to a bunch sprint if the peloton is together.

Recent editions

The Vuelta last finished in Córdoba in 2024, after a stage from Archidona. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) won the sprint from a thinned-out peloton that day, ahead of Mathias Vacek and Pau Miquel. Ben O'Connor kept the red jersey as the general classification leader. That day too, a climb in the final 30 kilometres caused a split before the sprinters settled it among themselves.

Scenarios

A day for the fast-finishing sprinters, provided they survive the Puerto Artafi: the climb ends 36.6 kilometres from the finish, followed by a flat run-in to Córdoba.

Early breakaway riders get chances, due to the continuous up-and-down nature of the route, to keep their gap deep into the finale, especially if the big teams don't keep tight control.

Local

During the era of the Caliphate of Córdoba (10th century), Córdoba was one of the largest cities in Europe and is best known for the Mezquita-Catedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. The city last hosted the Vuelta in 2024, resulting in a win for Wout van Aert. The start town of Palma del Río lies at the confluence of the Genil and Guadalquivir rivers. The town has Roman roots (Segina Augurina) and was re-founded as a fortified town in 1498.

Weather forecast

On Sunday 6 September, Córdoba is expected to see the hottest day of this Vuelta: a maximum of 39.6°C and a minimum of 23.2°C. Rain is not expected, it will stay dry. In the final 50 km, a weak wind from the west-southwest is expected, with speeds of up to around 5 km/h: barely influencing the race.

TV guide

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