- Stage 12: Vera - Calar Alto
- Date: September 3, 2026
- Distance: 166.6km
- Elevation gain: 4,475
- Start time: 13:07 CET
- Finish time: 17:17 CET
Stage details
The Vuelta a España climbers and GC contenders return to the forefront in Andalusia, near the Mediterranean coast on stage 12, for another tough summit finish.
The challenge ahead is the traditional double climb formed by Velefique and Calar Alto, previously won by Roberto Heras, Igor Antón and Miguel Ángel López. On Thursday it will provide another test of the new GC order formed with the crash of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team-XRG), which turned a battle for the red jersey that looked almost set in concrete into a far more fluid affair.
There was an opening skirmish on stage 9 last week, where Enric Mas (Movistar) consolidated his position but stage 12's effort is the beginning of a more prolonged assault given its the first of a run of four days in the mountains before the final rest day offers some respite.
What's more, the two-pronged test near the end of the stage offers a real change to deliver substantial gaps in a GC battle where the top four – Mas, Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Oscar Onley (Netcompany Ineos) – are seperated by just 2:20.
The day of racing starts in Vera, near the Mediterranean coast, before heading inland and rising immediately. The first test of the day, the Alto del Cabecico, comes at just 16 kilometres in.
The riders continue climbing into the Sierra de los Filabres, tackling the Alto de Cóbdar and the Collado García, before a quick descent into the valley sets up the finale: the Alto de Velefique and Calar Alto.
The final ascent, to the Calar Alto Astronomical Observatory, the largest astronomical observatory in Europe, tops out at 2,100 metres while the gradients along the way hit a maximum of 18%.
Climbs
- Alto del Cabecico (cat. 3, 8.3km at 3.3%), km. 16
- Alto de Cóbdar (cat. 3, 4.9km at 4.5%), km. 57.5
- Collado García (cat. 2, 18.5km at 2.4%), km. 86.4
- Alto de Velefique (cat. 1, 13.1km at 7.2%, max. 15%), km. 135.4
- Calar Alto (cat. 1, 16.9km at 5.6%, max. 18%), km. 166.6
Sprints
- Velefique, km. 123.7 - points only
- Alto de Velefique, km. 135.4 - time bonus for top three riders
