BREAKING: Vuelta a Espana organisers to neutralise final stage - Times to be taken ahead of final lap after rider pressure
CyclingSunday, 13 September 2026 at 13:40
The final lap of stage 21 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana will have times neutralised as the organisers are set to announce that general classification times will be taken at roughly 10 kilometres to go.
After pressure from many riders and teams about the dangers of racing the local Granada city circuit, the final lap of the circuit will be neutralised, times taken with roughly 10 kilometres of the 112-kilometre stage remaining.
The stage win will still be up for grabs in the finale but general classification riders will not face a nervous finale in their bid to hold onto their position. Multiple publications have reported the decision, but the Vuelta a Espana official platforms have not yet confirmed the move.
A city circuit featuring four ascents of a 2-kilometre cobbled climb are set to light up the Vuelta finale, with versatile sprinters primed to compete for the stage honours as Matthew Brennan and Wout van Aert attempt to make it a remarkable eight stage wins for Visma | Lease a Bike.
Enric Mas is on the brink of winning the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Riders express concerns
On Saturday afternoon, it was reported that the organisers were opposed to the request after multiple teams expressed their concerns. No formal decision has been confirmed about the status of stage 21. The stage starts Sunday afternoon at 4:20 PM CET.
"In a stage like this, that is in principle quite possible. It is a difficult and dangerous loop through the center of Granada. We are discussing neutralizing the times, like in the Tour,” Decathlon rider Sander De Pestel told Sporza after stage 20.
“Suppose someone falls or gets a flat 40 kilometers from the finish, it is impossible to catch up. The organisation does not want the timings to be neutralised.”
"It is not a circus"
With hairpin bends, slippery streets and 20 stages of hard work under their belts, De Pestel expressed the reasoning behind their concerns.
He added: “There are many hairpin bends on the descents and the roads are extremely slippery through the city center.
“They really have to think a bit about the riders, and especially the general classification contenders, who have been fighting for every second for three weeks and could lose two minutes due to a flat tire. That would be a shame."
He added: "It is not a circus."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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