2026 Vuelta a España: Preview of Stage 12: A mountain finish for fans of the big names

​Key information on Stage 12 of the 2026 Vuelta a España

• Thursday, 3 September: Vera – Calar Alto
• 166.6 kilometres, 4,568 metres of elevation gain (mountain finish)
• Mountain climbs: km 16 (3rd category), km 57.5 (3rd category), km 86.4 (2nd category), km 135.4 (1st category), km 166.6 (1st category)
• Intermediate sprint: KM 123.7
• Bonus sprint: 135.4 km
• Start: 1.07 pm, Finish: approx. 5.16 pm
• Live updates and results

The route of the 12th stage of the Tour of Spain

Stage 12 of the Vuelta follows a similar route to the previous day’s stage. It starts near the Mediterranean and heads westwards into the interior. But those are the only similarities. Instead of a relatively flat stage, the riders face 4,500 metres of climbing and a genuine mountain finish at Calar Alto.

But even the route to get there is no walk in the park. The first mountain classification (3rd category) after 16 kilometres is still relatively straightforward, with a 3.8 per cent gradient over just over eight kilometres. The terrain continues to climb thereafter, but the next categorised climb after 57 kilometres (Category 3) is still well within reach. Around the halfway point of the race comes the Collado Garcia (category 2), which is 18 kilometres long and features two short descents. This is followed by 20 kilometres of descent before the most challenging part of the day begins.

The first of two major climbs is the Alto de Velefique (Category 1). Officially, it measures 13.1 kilometres with a 7.2 per cent gradient, but even the 15 kilometres leading up to the start of the climb – which is heralded by the intermediate sprint – are uphill. A 13-kilometre descent is then followed by the final climb to Calar Alto (Category 1).

The climb up to the plateau, where several huge astronomical observatories are situated, is divided into two sections. The first seven kilometres of the 17-kilometre route are relatively consistently steep at over nine per cent, with the gradient occasionally peaking briefly at 18 per cent. After that, the gradient becomes irregular. Gradients of around six per cent alternate with two short descents; four kilometres from the finish, there is another 1,000-metre stretch with a gradient of almost ten per cent. The final kilometre also features a flat, slightly downhill section where you need to build up momentum for the final few metres of the climb.

This is the fourth time a stage of the Vuelta has finished here. Following 2004 and 2006, the race last visited this location in 2017.

A sporting analysis of Stage 12 of the 2026 Vuelta a España

By now, Enric Mas (Movistar Team) has got used to riding in the red jersey. The Spaniard has also been wide awake on the flat stages of the last few days and always ready to step in should danger arise. Mas does not seem – at least not yet – to be feeling the pressure of the jersey. And that is likely to work in his favour, as he had already shown with his stage win on the mountain finish immediately after Pogacar’s withdrawal that he has the legs to genuinely compete for the Vuelta victory here.

This puts the competition under pressure, as they know that Mas won’t give up the jersey without a fight. Whilst Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) will be pinning his hopes on the time trial and is likely to be aiming not to lose any more time on Stage 12, Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) must try to make up ground. The opening kilometres of the Calar Alto climb are perfect for this. The first three kilometres have an average gradient of more than ten per cent. This is where the attack must come if riders are to shake off the competition, as the climb flattens out towards the end and even includes some gentle descents. There, a lead can be defended, or perhaps a deficit made up. However, by the seven-kilometre mark at the latest, it will be too late to open up gaps.