Wednesday 26 August 2026 – Vuelta a España stage 5: Falset → Roquetes (173.3 km)

Route

Stage 5 of the Vuelta a España starts in Falset, in the Costa Daurada, and finishes after 173.3 kilometres in Roquetes, in the Terres de l'Ebre. The organisers classify the stage as hilly. The route features around 1,700 metres of climbing.

After the start comes a descent, followed by rolling terrain and dozens of kilometres of flat road. From around 56 kilometres from the finish, a series of uncategorised climbs follows: 2.9 km at 5.7%, followed by rises of 2.7 km at 6.4%, 700 metres at 4%, 1.5 km at 4.6%, 3.9 km at 6.6% and 700 metres at 5.4%. This stretch continues until around 16 kilometres from the finish, with barely any flat sections between the climbs.

The only categorised climb of the day is the Puerto de Paüls (3.5 km at 7.1%, category 3), with peaks of up to 12.2%. The climb begins at km 144.9 and the summit lies 24.9 kilometres from the finish. After the descent of the Paüls, a mostly flat stretch follows to Roquetes.

Final kilometres

After the descent of the Puerto de Paüls, riders who are dropped have around 10 kilometres to rejoin the peloton. The final kilometres into Roquetes are mostly flat. In the last 800 metres, the road climbs gently towards the line.

Recent editions

Roquetes is a finish town in the Vuelta a España for the first time this year. No data is available for previous editions at this finish.

Scenarios

A day for the puncheurs: the series of short climbs between 56 and 16 kilometres from the finish and the climb to the Puerto de Paüls at 24.9 kilometres from the line make this stage tougher than a flat ride. Pure sprinters who are dropped on the Paüls still have a chance to rejoin on the descent and the remaining 10 kilometres.

If the peloton stays together after the climb, a mass sprint in Roquetes is the most likely scenario.

Local

The Terres de l'Ebre is a regular fixture of the Clàssica Terres de l'Ebre (UCI 1.1), a one-day race that starts in Amposta, a few kilometres from Roquetes. The 2025 edition was won by Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG). In 2023, the Volta a Catalunya passed through the region, where Primož Roglič beat Remco Evenepoel.

Weather forecast

Expected in Roquetes on Wednesday: dry and sunny weather with a high of 30.8°C and a low of 21.6°C. No precipitation is expected. In the final kilometres, a south-southeasterly wind will blow with gusts of up to 19.4 km/h.

TV guide

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