Vuelta a España 2026 / Week 1: Andorra and the Costa Blanca

Day at leisure in Barcelona. If you would like any assistance in booking extra nights, tours or activities to make the most of your time in the city, please contact your Bike Spain Travel advisor.

This beautiful Pyrenean route takes us across the border into France and through the open landscapes of the Cerdanya valley, before climbing steadily past forested slopes and high mountain pastures toward Mont-Louis, with expansive views opening over the eastern Pyrenees. We’ll enjoy a sweeping descent into Font Romeu and across the finish line, before taking our places in the VIP finish area.

Once we’ve cheered the peloton across the finish line, we’ll head to our hotel in Andorra. Here, we’ll carry out our welcome briefing and bike fitting. We’ll enjoy a brief warm-up ride around the charming mountaintop city of Andorra la Vella, before getting to know each other over a delicious dinner.

2026 will be the fifth time that La Vuelta has included a stage set entirely within the small principality of Andorra. The last Andorra stage was won in 2019 by Tadej Pogacar, marking his first ever Grand Tour stage victory!

Starting in Andorra la Vella, we’ll roll out through the valley before the road tilts upward toward the elegant ascent of Col d’Ordino. The climb is steady and scenic, winding through pine forests and opening onto wide alpine views near the summit.

A fast, flowing descent leads back toward the capital, offering a chance to recover before the second challenge of the day. The Alto de Comella may be shorter, but it is punchy and relentless, demanding careful pacing and rewarding effort with sweeping views over the valley.

From the summit, the road drops quickly back into Andorra la Vella, where we’ll follow the final kilometers of today’s stage and cross the official finish line in the heart of the city, before heading to the VIP finish area to wait for the pros to arrive!

Our cycling route today begins in L’Ampolla, and follows the Ebro’s fertile plains past wide river vistas and gentle terrain. We’ll pass through the historic city of Tortosa before finishing in Roquetes, where we’ll head to the VIP finish area to await the arrival of the peloton.

After another exciting Vuelta finish, we’ll head to our next hotel in Benicàssim.

The first section is relaxed and fast, passing charming beaches and small coves. In Alcossebre, we’ll soak up the Vuelta atmosphere in the departure village, and wave the riders off as they begin today’s stage.

Once the final cyclist has disappeared into the distance, we’ll get back on our bikes and head toward one of the highlights of today’s Vuelta stage: the Desierto de las Palmas climb. This ascent is a true local classic—steady gradients that demand focus and rhythm, with pine-scented forest on either side and dramatic views opening up as you gain height. It’s a climb that rewards persistence with spectacular panoramas over the coast and hills.

We’ll enjoy an adrenaline-fulled descent of sweeping turns and fabulous views, before returning to Benicàssim for an afternoon at leisure on the beach.

Once we arrive in the town of Orba, it’s time for today’s cycle route! We’ll climb steadily through classic Marina Alta terrain, with sustained gradients and panoramic views across the Serrella and Bernia ranges before cresting the high point near Tàrbena. A flowing descent takes us back toward the coast, transitioning from rugged limestone hills to orange groves and finally the Mediterranean shoreline, finishing at our accomodation: Hotel Cap Negret in Altea.

The ascent is steady and consistent. Smooth tarmac, predictable gradients, and minimal traffic make it perfectly suited to focused training, while the open hillside offers expansive views back toward the Mediterranean.

After cresting the summit, the loop continues with a fast, technical descent. Sweeping bends and well-surfaced roads allow you to maintain speed while staying fully in control, before the terrain gradually eases on the return toward the coast.

The climb unfolds in long, sustained ramps, climbing ever higher through forests and exposed sections where the scale of the landscape becomes clear. As the altitude increases, the environment becomes more austere and alpine in character.

At the top, we’ll catch our breath in the VIP section, cheering on the pros as they tackle the very same summit finish!

Arrival airport: Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN). Direct flights to Barcelona are widely available from many international destinations.

Departure airport: Alicante (ALC) or Madrid (MAD).

Alicante is well-connected by high-speed train to Madrid, and boasts its own airport with connections to a number of destinations within Europe.