Saturday 12 September 2026 – Vuelta a España stage 20: La Calahorra → Collado del Alguacil (186.8 km)

Route

Stage 20 is the queen stage of the Vuelta a España 2026 and, according to ProCyclingStats' profile score, the toughest mountain stage in a Grand Tour since the 2004 Tour de France. The route from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil covers 186.8 kilometres and around 4,800 metres of climbing (sources vary between 4,849 and 5,041 metres), spread over four major climbs.

After a flat run-in through Guadix, the Puerto de Los Blancares (7.7 km at 3.7%) begins at km 43, a climb that becomes tough mainly in its final section. After the descent to Granada, the Alto de El Purche (8.2 km at 8.1%) follows at km 86, with the first three kilometres between 9 and 11% and a section of 17%. Via a loop through Huétor Vega and Monachil, the peloton climbs the same Alto de El Purche (8.2 km at 8.1%) a second time, with the top at km 125.5.

Via Pinos Genil and Güéjar Sierra follows the Puerto de El Duque (7.4 km at 8.3%), with a 2.5-kilometre section above 10% and a peak of 20%. After the descent, the last climb of the day begins towards the Collado del Alguacil (8.3 km at 9.8%), a dead-end road in the Sierra Nevada being climbed for the first time in cycling history. The climb hits double digits from the very first kilometre marker, with ramps of up to 21% right after Güéjar Sierra.

Final kilometres

The final 8.3 kilometres run entirely uphill to the Collado del Alguacil. After the steep ramps of 21, 19 and 17% right after Güéjar Sierra, a long stretch above 10% follows all the way to the line. There is no flat section or easing in the closing kilometres.

Recent editions

The Collado del Alguacil is a new climb that has never been used in a cycling race before, so recent results at this exact finish are lacking. The closest comparable mountain stage of the last ten years is stage 18 of the 2021 Vuelta: Salas - Altu d'El Gamoniteiru, 162.6 kilometres with over 5,000 metres of climbing. Miguel Ángel López won solo that day ahead of Primož Roglič and Enric Mas, both back at the start this year.

Scenarios

A day for the GC riders. Enric Mas (Movistar) starts the stage with a lead of 2 minutes and 6 seconds over Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), with Primož Roglič (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) at 2:10. Four consecutive climbs give Gall and Roglič several chances to gain time on Mas, while the stage win could go separately to a climber who breaks away from the GC group on the Collado del Alguacil.

Local

Carlos Rodríguez (Netcompany INEOS) was born in Almuñécar, in the province of Granada, around 70 kilometres from the finish. Stage 13 of this Vuelta departed from his hometown. The Sierra Nevada, through which the final kilometres run, is the southernmost high mountain range in Europe and lies right next to the city of Granada.

Weather forecast

On Saturday, plenty of sunshine is expected at the finish in the Sierra Nevada (Güéjar Sierra), with a high of 28.7°C and a low of 14.3°C. It will stay dry. In the final 50 km, wind will come from the west-southwest with speeds up to 18.8 km/h.

TV guide

• HBO Max — 12:15
• Sporza (online) — 13:30
• VRT 1 — 13:30