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Spain 03 May – 09 May 2026 Class 2.WWT – Stages – UCI Women’s WorldTour
Website lavueltafemenina.es
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 2026 Vuelta España Femenina by Carrefour.es is running from May 3 to May 9, 2026. This 4th edition of the race is particularly historic as it concludes with a legendary climb to the Alto de l’Angliru, marking the first time the women’s professional peloton will tackle one of cycling’s most fearsome ascents.
The race covers a total of 819.5 km over seven stages, primarily through the regions of Galicia, Castilla y León, and Asturias.
Official Race Schedule & Route
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Terrain |
| 1 | Sun, May 3 | Marín > Salvaterra de Miño | 113.9 km | Hilly |
| 2 | Mon, May 4 | Lobios > San Cibrao das Viñas | 109.8 km | Hilly |
| 3 | Tue, May 5 | Padrón > A Coruña | 121.2 km | Flat |
| 4 | Wed, May 6 | Monforte de Lemos > Antas de Ulla | 115.6 km | Hilly |
| 5 | Thu, May 7 | León > Astorga | 119.6 km | Flat |
| 6 | Fri, May 8 | Gijón/Xixón > Les Praeres (Nava) | 106.5 km | Mountain (Summit Finish) |
| 7 | Sat, May 9 | La Pola Llaviana > L’Angliru | 132.9 km | High Mountain |
Key Highlights of the 2026 Edition
- The Angliru Finale: The Queen Stage (Stage 7) ends at the Alto de l’Angliru, a 12.5 km climb with an average gradient of 10% and ramps reaching a staggering 23.5%. This will likely decide the final Red Jersey winner.
- Back-to-Back Summit Finishes: Before the Angliru, Stage 6 finishes at Les Praeres de Nava, a short but brutal 4 km climb with an average gradient of 13.5%.
- Sprinter Opportunities: Stages 3 and 5 are the primary targets for the fast finishers, though the undulating terrain in Galicia (Stages 1, 2, and 4) often favors breakaways or reduced bunch sprints.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The history of the Vuelta España Femenina by Carrefour.es is a story of rapid evolution, transforming from a single-day exhibition in Madrid into a grueling seven-day Grand Tour that now rivals the men’s race in prestige and difficulty.
The Evolution: From Madrid to a Grand Tour
The race did not start as a multi-stage event. It has gone through several rebranding phases and structural expansions to reach its current status:
- 2015 – 2017: The Madrid Challenge by La VueltaInitially, the race was a one-day “criterium” style event held on the final day of the men’s Vuelta a España in the heart of Madrid. American Shelley Olds won the inaugural edition, followed by two consecutive wins from Belgium’s Jolien D’hoore.
- 2018 – 2022: The CERATIZIT Challenge by La VueltaThe race expanded into a multi-day stage race and moved beyond the streets of Madrid. During this era, Dutch legend Annemiek van Vleuten dominated, winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 as the race grew to five stages.
- 2023 – Present: La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.esA major turning point occurred in 2023 when the race was officially rebranded, moved to May (separating it from the men’s September calendar), and expanded to seven stages. This established it as a legitimate “Grand Tour” for the women’s peloton.
Historical Winners
The “Roll of Honor” includes some of the greatest names in women’s cycling history:
| Year | Winner | Nationality |
| 2025 | Demi Vollering | Netherlands |
| 2024 | Demi Vollering | Netherlands |
| 2023 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Netherlands |
| 2022 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Netherlands |
| 2021 | Annemiek van Vleuten | Netherlands |
| 2020 | Lisa Brennauer | Germany |
| 2019 | Lisa Brennauer | Germany |
| 2018 | Ellen van Dijk | Netherlands |
| 2017 | Jolien D’hoore | Belgium |
Key Milestones
- 2023: The First “Real” Vuelta. The 2023 edition was the first to be held as a standalone event with its own dates and a significantly tougher mountain profile, finishing atop the Lagos de Covadonga.
- 2026: The Angliru debut. The 2026 edition is considered a landmark year for the race, as it introduces the Alto de l’Angliru, arguably the hardest climb in professional cycling, solidifying the race’s reputation for extreme difficulty.
- The Red Jersey: Just like the men’s race, the leader of the general classification wears La Roja (the red jersey), while the points leader wears green, the mountain leader wears polka dots, and the best young rider wears white.
The race is now widely considered one of the three “pillars” of the women’s season, alongside the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro d’Italia Women.
