The Vuelta Femenina always marks the start of the grand tours in the women's racing calendar. It is therefore also a big test for the Tour de France Femmes, which starts on 1 August this year. The biggest change to the route compared to previous years is the omission of the team time trial at the start of the Vuelta. Instead, this time there will be an undulating stage at the start of the tour. What has not changed from last year is that two stages with a brutal finale are on the programme, only this time they follow each other directly and form the last two stages of the Tour of Spain. The new winner of the Vuelta Femenina 2026 will be decided on the Angliru, the finale of the seventh stage, at the latest.
These are the stages of the Vuelta Femenina 2026
Stage 1 | Sunday, 3 May | Marín - Salvaterra de Miño | 113.9 kilometres
The race starts in Marín, from where the riders will first ride along the coast and later head south-east to the Portuguese border. There, after two third categories in the first half of the stage, an uphill sprint awaits the fast riders. The second half of the stage in particular is likely to ensure that a group is caught up again and put behind the peloton.
Stage 2 | Monday, 4 May | Lobios - San Cibrao das Viñas | 109.8 kilometres
There is no time to rest and catch your breath on the second section. From the coast in Lobios to San Cibrao das Viñas, there are constant ups and downs, albeit without a categorised climb. A group has a good chance here, but must have enough of a lead before the finale, as there is another long climb a few kilometres before the finish. A sprint from a decimated peloton is also possible here.
Stage 3 | Tuesday, 5 May | Padrón - A Coruña | 121.2 kilometres
From Padrón, the route heads to the coast to A Coruña. There are no categorised climbs to climb on stage 3 either. Undulating terrain is the only task here for the sprinters, who could have another chance to take a stage win. A breakaway victory is not out of the question, but it will probably be difficult to hold on to the lead over the peloton to the finish.
Stage 4 | Wednesday, 6 May | Monforte de Lemos - Antas de Ulla | 115.6 kilometres
Although there are two third-category climbs on the stage from Monforte de Lemos to Antas de Ulla, they are far enough away from the finish to have a major impact on the result. There are still more than 30 kilometres from the second climb to the finish. Here, the sprinters can catch up again if they haven't built up too much of a time deficit. The entire peloton will probably not finish together, but a sprint from a larger group is realistic.
Stage 5 | Thursday, 7 May | Léon - Astorga | 119.6 kilometres
For the first time, the route leaves the autonomous region of Galicia and continues eastwards. From Léon, the fifth stage runs over two third-category mountains, but these are well before the finish. The last 45 kilometres are almost entirely downhill to Astorga, so a bunch sprint is almost certain. But be careful: the wind is tough on this last section, with the possibility of wind edges.
Stage 6 | Friday, 8 May | Gijón/Xixón - Les Praeres. Nava | 106.5 kilometres
On the sixth day, things really get going for the riders in the overall classification. Although the first 100 kilometres are only slightly undulating, the mountain finish in Les Praeres. Nava is anything but easy. Over just 3.7 kilometres, the climb averages 13.4 per cent. There are very few climbs like this, and this is where the first general classification is drawn up.
Stage 7 | Saturday, 9 May | La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana - L'Angliru | 132.9 kilometres
The last and decisive stage leads from La Pola Llaviana to the infamous Angliru. The stage profile is similar to that of the previous day, but there are two third-category and one second-category climb to tackle before the big task of the day. There is also a mountain finish today. 9.7 per cent over 12.4 kilometres will decide who wins the stage race, although the time gaps can be quite large with such figures. The winner can then celebrate on the Angliru.
Vuelta Femenina 2026: TV broadcast & live stream
The 2026 Tour of Spain for women will be broadcast live in Germany on Eurosport 1 from the third stage onwards. The channel will show the last one and a half to two hours of each stage. There will be a live stream of all stages on Discovery Plus (for a fee).
Leon Weidner
Working student
