Vuelta a Asturias 2026 | Preview, profiles, favourites and prediction: Nairo Quintana’s last dance?

The Vuelta a Asturias 2026 takes place from 23 to 26 April with a spectacular route and, at last, live TV after several years without broadcast. Movistar Team lines up with Nairo Quintana in what looks like the last real shot at a career victory.

The peloton will roll out from the Principality’s capital, Oviedo, for an opening stage on Thursday, 23 April that sends the riders to a finish town still to be confirmed. Last season it was Benia de Onís, where Steff Cras pulled on the leader’s jersey after beating Marc Soler on day one.

Barely twenty-four hours later, the riders face the second stage on Friday, 24 April. It is expected to start in Benia de Onís and finish in Pola de Lena, a day in classic mountain terrain that has long been prime ground for puncheurs and strong rouleurs. GC leaders will need to stay sharp if they want to keep their chances alive.

In 2025, Movistar’s García Cortina took his only win of the season on this terrain ahead of UAE’s Julius Johansen. The Asturian forced the pace on the Alto de Carabanzo after making a five-man move. Past the halfway point of the Asturian round, the race shifts west for the third stage on Saturday, 25 April, drawing a punchy, twisting route between Castropol and Vegadeo.

Last year it finished with a descent and flat run-in to the Eo-Navia area, where Alessandro Covi—then with UAE—beat Jordi López and Cortina. With the start town still up in the air, the finale comes on Sunday, 26 April with the fourth and last stage, linking Navia with the classic, emblematic finish in Oviedo. The traditional epicenter for the race’s finale will crown the overall winner of this new edition.

Marc Soler, in the leader’s jersey, sealed the final day with a move 7 kilometres from the line. He powered clear on the ramps of “El Cristo” and held on solo to Oviedo’s Calle Uría, wrapping up four notable days with the Emirati squad.

The organisers are working to deliver a balanced route that will test riders’ endurance across the most characteristic landscapes of the Principality, offering a course worthy of top-level international cycling.

Pelayo Sánchez will return to racing with Movistar Team on home roads. The start of the season set alarm bells ringing within the Telefónica-backed squad.

In this moment of sporting need, the team is pinning much of its hopes on the Asturian’s imminent comeback. The talented Tellego puncheur plans to reappear at “la Vueltina”, a date laced with emotion, where he will try to flip the team’s momentum and steer it back towards the results needed to climb the rankings.

The young rider’s return will be a major relief, as it signals he has overcome persistent knee issues and a severe case of Lyme disease that completely undermined his previous campaign. Expectations for his recovery are high, to the point that analysts argue having him back is “as positive, if not more so, than the new signings” made in the last window.

It is worth recalling that the Asturian is the last Movistar rider to raise his arms in a Grand Tour, thanks to his brilliant stage win at the 2024 Giro d’Italia. His sharp winning instinct makes him a vital pillar to lead this demanding fight for survival.

RTPA has confirmed it: the Vuelta a Asturias 2026 will be televised. The Government of the Principality of Asturias will invest more than €270,000 to bolster the race’s infrastructure and secure its place on the pro calendar.

The regional Administration “will bring everything that happens across the four days of racing into people’s homes.” In doing so, it doubles down on an event that serves as a key shop window for promoting the region and boosting the local economy.

The cornerstone of the deal is the guarantee that the race will have live TV production via TPA throughout its four days, ensuring fans can follow the action, unlike in recent years.

The financial effort breaks down into €210,000 provided directly by the Asturian Executive, plus €62,500 already committed by the Department of Tourism. Thanks to this injection, the organisers can maximise the race’s media impact and consolidate the prestige of an event looking to grow in reach and international relevance.

The history of the Vuelta a Asturias mirrors the evolution of professional cycling, told across nearly a century of climbing on the broken roads of the Principality since its debut in 1925. The race has been a proving ground for legends such as Federico Martín Bahamontes.

The “Eagle of Toledo” etched his name on the trophy twice in the 1950s, as did Miguel Induráin, who won in 1996 just before closing his professional career.

Despite historical pauses caused by economic or social difficulties that forced cancellations, “la Vueltina” has maintained its status as one of the toughest fixtures on the national calendar, attracting international figures like Laurent Jalabert, Alex Zülle, and Tony Rominger, who fought on Asturian ramps to build a palmarès of exceptional sporting level.

In more recent times, the northern stage race has become markedly international with the rise of Latin American talents and the solid dominance of WorldTour structures. After back-to-back wins by Richard Carapaz for Movistar and the consistency shown by Nairo Quintana with Arkea, the last two editions have seen total control by UAE, first with Mexican Isaac Del Toro and most recently with Marc Soler.

The Catalan rider, the current title holder, reflected on his success after last year’s win: “Taking victory in a race with such tradition and toughness is immensely satisfying and motivates me to keep fighting on the biggest stages.” Looking towards 2026, the start list awaits a new rider capable of enduring the suffering in the mountains of Asturias’s cycling paradise.

The Vuelta a Asturias presents a balanced field with several standout names, led by Nairo Quintana, Movistar Team’s main reference. The Colombian brings experience and course knowledge, making him one of the leading favourites. Alongside him, Diego Pescador is a solid in-house option, while José Manuel Díaz and Daniel Cavia spearhead Burgos Burpellet BH’s ambitions, aiming for prominence in a race that often rewards consistency in the mountains.

Among the most dangerous rivals is Filippo Baroncini, representing UAE Team Emirates - XRG, accompanied by Abdulla Jasim Al-Ali in a line-up that blends youth and talent. It will also be important to watch Iúri Leitão and Jan Castellon within Caja Rural - Seguros RGA, two riders capable of infiltrating breakaways or contesting secondary classifications. Sergio Geovani Chumil is another name to note for his combative profile, able to spring a surprise on demanding stages.

Beyond the headline favourites, the field includes riders such as Hugo de la Calle and Abdulla Jasim Al-Ali, as well as a broad representation from teams like Euskaltel - Euskadi, Equipo Kern Pharma, and Nu Colombia, who could ignite the race with long-range attacks. The variety of rider profiles on the start line points to an open edition, where team strategy and opportunities on key stages could prove decisive in shaping the overall winner.

*** Filippo Baroncini
** Diego Pescador, Nairo Quintana, Jan Castellón, José Manuel Díaz
* Sergio Chumil, Diego Torres, Daniel Cavia, Javier Cubillas, Julius Johansen, Adrià Pericas

Pick: Filippo Baroncini