The 12th stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a España 2026, scheduled for September 3rd, will connect Vera with the summit of Calar Alto. This stage, presented at the Patio de Luces of the Provincial Council, aims to be the queen stage of the edition, characterized by its difficulty and decisive potential.
At the presentation, attended by the president of the Provincial Council of Almería, José Antonio García Alcaina; the mayor of Vera, Alfonso García; and the general director of La Vuelta, Javier Guillén, it was detailed that the stage will cover 167 km with a cumulative elevation gain exceeding 4,500 meters. These figures position it among the toughest on the global cycling calendar.
Cyclists will face four mountain passes before the final finish line at Calar Alto, located at over 2,100 meters above sea level: the Alto del Cabecico, the Alto de Cóbdar, the Collado García, and the Alto de Velefique. The stage's difficulty is expected to be maximal, culminating in the ascent to the summit.
José Antonio García Alcaina highlighted La Vuelta's importance as part of Spain's sporting tradition and a global showcase for the Costa de Almería, emphasizing the province's diverse landscapes that combine coast and mountain in a single stage. He stressed that Almería is an ideal destination for professional and amateur cycling due to its mountain passes, roads, and climate.
The mayor of Vera, Alfonso García, expressed his gratitude for his municipality being chosen as a host, emphasizing the event's potential to generate wealth and internationally promote the area's beaches, heritage, and gastronomy.
Javier Guillén, general director of La Vuelta, shared the organization's enthusiasm for touring the eight Andalusian provinces and highlighted the special relationship between the race and the province of Almería. He described the stage as "very interesting," featuring resources from sea to mountain, and one of the three toughest of the edition, convinced it will be "an epic race."
In addition to Vera and Calar Alto, the stage will pass through municipalities such as Gérgal, Antas, Zurgena, Arboleas, Albox, Cantoria, Albanchez, Cóbdar, Benitagla, Alcudia de Monteagud, Chercos, Macael, Tahal, Senés, Tabernas, Castro de Filabres, Velefique, Bacares, and Olula de Castro.
La Vuelta 2026 will consist of 21 stages, covering a total distance of 3,275 km, from August 22nd to September 13th. The route, starting from Monaco and finishing in Granada, will visit four countries and hold its final ten stages entirely in Andalusia. The edition features over 58,000 meters of cumulative positive elevation gain, including 6 mountain stages and 2 individual time trials.
The competition enjoys significant media coverage, being broadcast in 190 countries and attracting millions of viewers. The previous edition had over 1,200 accredited journalists and coverage from 654 media outlets, achieving a record 572 million video views.
