"Here’s to one last dance" - Jesús Herrada will say goodbye to Vuelta a España as he bids farewell to 16-year career
CyclingThursday, 20 August 2026 at 12:15
The next edition of La Vuelta a España, which starts this Saturday, will carry special meaning for Jesús Herrada. The rider from Cuenca will line up with Burgos Burpellet BH for his eighth appearance at Spain’s grand tour and, at the same time, his final race as a professional.
At 36, after 16 seasons at the highest level and 17 grand tours in his legs, the Mota del Cuervo native has decided to call time on his career. Herrada arrives at this farewell with 21 professional wins, highlighted by two Spanish national road titles and three stage victories at La Vuelta.
The Spanish race has been a defining thread of his trajectory. In 2018 he wore the red jersey of general classification leader for two days, and later raised his arms in Ares del Maestrat in 2019, Cistierna in 2022, and La Laguna Negra in 2023.
His career began in 2011 with Movistar Team, where he stayed until 2017. In 2018 he opened a new chapter at Cofidis and, by 2026, embarked on the final stretch of his journey with Burgos Burpellet BH. Across these years he became one of the most decorated Spanish riders of his generation and a regular at the grand tours.
His two national road titles, won in Bembibre in 2013 and Soria in 2017, are among the major milestones on his palmarès. He also claimed a stage at the 2016 Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing in Chalmazel-Jeansagnière, while in 2019 he signed one of the best seasons of his career by winning two stages and the overall at the Tour de Luxembourg. In 2023 he added a stage win at the Tour of Oman.
Herrada's defining victories over 16-year career
He also took victories in Spanish races such as the Vuelta a Asturias and the Challenge de Mallorca, along with successes in France at the Tour de Poitou-Charentes, La Route du Sud, the Tour du Limousin, the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge, the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs, and the Tour de Doubs.
His final season has been anything but symbolic. With Burgos Burpellet BH, Herrada showed his class across several climbers’ races. He stepped onto the podium at the Clásica de Pascua, finished sixth at the Clàssica Terres de l’Ebre—won by teammate José Manuel Díaz—took sixth at the Clásica Castilla y León and in the general classification at the Tour of Greece, and placed ninth at O Gran Camiño.
But his impact in recent months has gone well beyond results. Herrada became a reference point for the younger riders at Burgos Burpellet BH, sharing experience and guiding them in the peloton. Now he has one last mission: to lead the team in La Vuelta’s high mountains and chase a fourth stage win in the race that has shaped his career the most.
For the occasion, he will ride a custom BH Ultralight featuring tributes to his sporting journey, a special bike to be unveiled officially in the coming days.
“Here’s to one last dance. The time for goodbyes has come,” Herrada announced when making his decision public. The rider from Cuenca recalled it all began with a tricycle race in his neighborhood and that, since then, he has lived an adventure he could hardly have imagined. From his first pedal strokes alongside his grandfather to trips around Spain with his parents to support his brothers Fernando and José at their races, family has been a cornerstone of his path.
“And to you, cycling, what can I say. We’ve enjoyed and suffered in equal measure, because you brought everything out of me. My strengths and my fears, all reflected on a bike,” he explained.
Jesús Herrada, veteran rider of Burgos Burpellet BH
Jesús Herrada says goodbye to cycling
Herrada also wanted to thank everyone who stood by him throughout his professional years: teammates, directors and staff, as well as his family, his partner, and his friends. “I’m saying goodbye to this sport with a full heart. I don’t think I could ever have imagined everything I’d experience on a bike,” he said.
And he could not have chosen a more fitting stage to close the circle. “I’ll be lucky enough to say goodbye at the home race, La Vuelta, the one that has largely defined my career and the one that will be my final race as a professional cyclist,” he affirmed.
Now only the last chapter remains to be enjoyed. Jesús Herrada will tackle La Vuelta at 36 years old, with 16 professional seasons, 21 victories, two Spanish champion titles, three stage wins at the Spanish grand tour, and two days in red. A palmarès that already belongs to the recent history of Spanish cycling, but to which he still wants to add one last page.
Jesús Herrada’s last dance will be at La Vuelta. And he wants to bow out as he always has: fighting.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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