Vuelta a España 2026 undergoes route changes - Alto de Hazallanas removed from queen stage last-minute
CyclingFriday, 07 August 2026 at 14:45
At the Vuelta a España, landslides caused by February’s storms force a revision of the penultimate day’s route. Stage 20 is set to be the queen stage of the race, but its route has been forced to change with the removal of a significant climb.
The organisers of the Vuelta a España have announced a change to stage 20, the race’s penultimate day, due to safety issues on the access road to Alto de Hazallanas.
The landslides triggered by the storms last February have affected the planned route, preventing the climb from meeting the conditions required to host the race. As a result, the ascent to Hazallanas will be replaced by a new climb to Puerto de El Duque, a Vuelta debut.
An alternative route with the same sting
Despite the change, the organisers have worked to preserve the essence of one of the key stages of the 2026 edition. In collaboration with local authorities, they have drawn up an alternative route very close to the original, maintaining the planned intensity and difficulty for the penultimate day.
The reworked course will keep virtually the same distance and present a difficulty profile equivalent to the one unveiled in December. Moreover, the final section of Puerto de El Duque overlaps with part of the initially planned ascent, so the modification barely alters the philosophy of a stage designed to shape the general classification.
Riders will now tackle two ascents of Puerto de El Purche and one climb to Puerto de El Duque before facing the day’s big novelty: the finish at Collado del Alguacil, a first-time summit that will provide the final backdrop to a stage expected to split the favourites.
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Putting race safety first
La Vuelta’s organisers explained that their priority was to guarantee the safety of all participants and the public, while seeking an alternative that stayed as faithful as possible to the stage’s original design.
“The landslides caused by the storms last February have affected the access road to Alto de Hazallanas, preventing the climb from meeting the conditions required for La Vuelta to pass through,” the organisation stated.
La Vuelta also thanked the collaboration of the administrations and bodies involved, whose joint work made it possible to find a solution that preserves a high-demand stage in the final stretch of the race.
With this change, stage 20 remains one of the marquee dates of La Vuelta 2026, set in high mountains with a new finish that could be decisive before the race comes to an end in Granada.
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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