The route of the 81st Vuelta a España has been revealed since Wednesday evening. The organizers have chosen a start in Monaco for 2026, an extremely tough finale in the Sierra Nevada, and a remarkable closing stage. But what catches the eye of Grischa Niermann, Head of Racing at Visma | Lease a Bike, after a close look at the course is?
"It looks like a tough but well-balanced route. It’s a typical Vuelta in the sense that there are many serious climbs, but many of them are already familiar," Niermann explains on the Dutch team’s website. "To win, you also need to be strong against the clock, because there are more than 40 kilometers of time trials."
Still, the former rider also sees something that doesn’t quite 'fit' with the Vuelta a España. "The most unusual aspect is that there are two stages with more than 5,000 meters of elevation gain, spread across the race. That’s not common in the Vuelta," Niermann refers to the stages to Calar Alto (stage 12) and Collado del Alguacil (stage 20).
"Furthermore, I see many opportunities for fast riders who can also survive some climbs. There aren’t many completely flat stages. The heat could also play a role, since the entire race takes place in the south."
Race plan
Visma | Lease a Bike won this year’s Vuelta with Jonas Vingegaard, but does the team already have its race plan for the next edition of the Spanish Grand Tour? "We’re going to sit down now and come up with a good plan," he doesn’t reveal his cards just yet.
