Thursday 27 August – Vuelta a España stage 6: Alcossebre → Castelló (177.4 km)

Route

The Vuelta heads inland from the coastal town of Alcossebre for a hilly stage to Castelló. The route measures 177.4 kilometres and includes around 3,100 metres of climbing, spread over four categorised climbs.

After just over 30 kilometres, the Puerto de la Serratella begins (14.0 km at 3.8%), cresting at km 44.6. Shortly after comes the Coll de la Bandereta (4.6 km at 6.7%), cresting at km 66.1. After the descent, a flat plateau of around 20 kilometres follows, before the road drops back down towards the Mediterranean Sea.

Along the coast, shortly after Benicàssim, the peloton climbs the Alto del Desierto de las Palmas (7.6 km at 4.9%) for the first time, cresting at km 128.5. After the descent, the peloton rides back to the foot of the same mountain for a second ascent: Puerto El Bartolo (9.4 km at 7.1%), cresting at km 156.8. Between km 153.8 and 155.7 the road turns to gravel (1.9 km at 11.8%), followed by a short descent and a final stretch of 400 metres at 12.5% to the top.

Final kilometres

From the top of Puerto El Bartolo at km 156.8, there are 20.6 kilometres left to the finish line in Castelló. Most of this descends, followed by a flat stretch to the finish. There are no further climbs on the route.

Recent editions

Alcossebre and Castelló have barely any Vuelta history. Alcossebre hosted a finish in 2017: Alexey Lutsenko (then Astana) won solo there. In 1995, Nicola Minali won a sprint there. The last time the Vuelta passed through the province of Castellón was in 2019, with a stage from Onda to Mas de la Costa: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won ahead of Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), while Tadej Pogačar (then UAE Team Emirates) finished seventh in what was his first grand tour.

Scenarios

Early breakaway riders who gain a gap on the Puerto de la Serratella or the Coll de la Bandereta can defend that gap over the flat and descending closing kilometres after Puerto El Bartolo if the peloton dawdles.

The gravel section of Puerto El Bartolo, 20.6 kilometres from the finish, sieves out the pure sprinters. Puncheurs and classics riders who survive the climb stand the best chance in a sprint from a reduced group.

Local

Alcossebre and Castelló have produced barely any cyclists of regional note. The province of Castellón is, however, known for the Onda-Mas de la Costa stage in the 2019 Vuelta. For this edition, no active riders born in the province of Castellón were found in the Vuelta 2026 startlist.

Weather forecast

Expected in Castelló on Thursday: sunny and warm with a high of 36.5°C and a low of 21.0°C. Rainfall will be nil, it will stay dry. In the final 50 km there will be a southwesterly wind with gusts of up to 25.5 km/h.

TV guide

• Eurosport 1: 14:45
• HBO Max: 14:45