- Stage 3: Gruissan - Font-Romeu
- Date: August 24, 2026
- Distance: 174km
- Elevation gain: 2,639m
- Start time: 13:21 CEST
- Finish time: 17:18 CEST
Stage details
Stage 3 of the Vuelta a España features the first category 1 climb, and the first summit finish in a mid-mountain Pyrenean stage. This double ascent is likely to mark the first selection among the contenders for the overall victory, but as much of the stage takes place on flat terrain, the GC should remain fairly tight on the eve of the first high mountain stage.
The initial part of the route skirts a vast wetland area before passing Perpignan and heading south-west through a stretch of vineyards, then climbs the Têt valley through Villefranche-de-Conflent for the intermediate sprint at 129 kilometres. The road keeps climbing to the little-known Col de Mont-Louis, then straight on to the final climb of Font-Romeu, at 1,936 metres.
Climbs
- Col de Mont-Louis (cat. 1, 19.4km at 4.8%), km. 157.8
- Font-Romeu (cat. 2, 9.8km at 5%), km. 174
Sprints
- Villefranche-de-Conflent, km. 129
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