Thursday 10 September – Vuelta a España stage 18: El Puerto de Santa María → Jerez de la Frontera (32.1 km)

Route

Stage 18 is the second individual time trial of this Vuelta. From El Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la Frontera, the riders cover 32.1 kilometres, with a total of 217 metres of climbing. The route is virtually flat.

After the start ramp at the Plaza de Toros in El Puerto de Santa María, several roundabouts follow before the road heads straight towards Jerez. At km 12.8 there is a bend at El Portal, the only break in rhythm in the first part. The first time check is at km 11.7. Around km 19.8, a few bends follow at Lomopardo, followed by the second time check at km 22.1 near Estella del Marqués.

From there the route runs along the eastern side of Jerez de la Frontera, before approaching the city from the north. The final bends lie between km 29.9 and 30.8. From km 30.8 the road runs straight to the finish on the broad Avenida Andalucía.

Final kilometres

The final 1.3 kilometres run along the straight Avenida Andalucía, wide and flat. After the last roundabout at km 30.8, there are no more bends until the finish at km 32.1. The route here is ideal for maintaining the speed built up in the first part.

Recent editions

Jerez de la Frontera already featured in the Vuelta in 2014, when the race started there with a team time trial. Movistar won that stage, six seconds ahead of Cannondale. For an individual time trial in the city, one has to go further back: in 1992 the Vuelta also opened in Jerez, with an individual time trial won by Jelle Nijdam. He thereby took over the first leader's jersey of that edition.

The last two individual time trials in the Vuelta went to pure specialists: Stefan Küng won the closing time trial in Madrid in 2024, and Filippo Ganna won the (shortened due to safety incidents) time trial in Valladolid in 2025.

Scenarios

The time trial specialists take centre stage. Stefan Küng (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) is one of the few pure specialists still at the start and is considered a contender for the stage win.

For the general classification, this is a day for the grand tour climbers with time trial qualities. Primož Roglič, who was 2:10 behind leader Enric Mas after stage 15, is considered the rider with the most to gain on the classification because of his time trial pedigree.

Local

Jerez de la Frontera is the capital of sherry production in Andalusia and home to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the Andalusian school of classical dressage. There are no riders in the current Vuelta start list born in El Puerto de Santa María or Jerez de la Frontera.

Weather forecast

Dry weather is expected in Jerez de la Frontera on Thursday, with a maximum of 28.5°C and a minimum of 18.9°C. No precipitation is expected. There will be a south-southwesterly wind with speeds up to 15.1 km/h.

TV guide

• HBO Max — from 14:45