We want to ride these 15 climbs from the 2026 Vuelta ourselves

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The Vuelta of 2026 will count according to the Official route 3,275 kilometers, six mountain stages and two individual time trials. Between Monaco and Granada, the riders will face 39 recorded climbs. Cyclingnews estimates 58,156 meters of elevation gain.

For our selection, we use the route-based climbing index and profiles from CyclingCols. A low index indicates a more difficult climb. Some cols return in multiple categories, because heavy and unfamiliar can go well together.

The five hardest climbs

1. Port d’Envalira – The western side from Escaldes-Engordany provides 25.3 km, 1,301 meters of elevation gain and an average of 5.1% per kilometer. With its peak at 2,407 meters, Envalira stands at the top of the index.

2. Collado del Alguacil – From Pinos Genil, the 16%.7 km stretch of 6.8 is waiting for you. Especially the last 7 km, averaging 10.6%, make this new final climb above Granada unique.

3. Alto de Haza Llanas – The final 5 km are on average 13.6% km long, with peaks of up to 17% km. The final kilometers are therefore very steep.

4. Alto de Monachil – The south side is 14.6 km long and reaches 15%. The hardest 4 km takes an average of 11.3%, and the Vuelta climbs this mountain twice in stage 20.

5. El Miserat – This eastern climb also ranks high in the CyclingCols index. The climb of 756 meters makes its debut in the Vuelta.

Five unique climbs to be driven yourself

1. Port d’Envalira – Andorra offers many opportunities for cyclists. Andvalira is a perfect way to combine it with Beixalis, Coll d’Ordino and Comella, All of them are insiden range for a (long day) bike ride.

2. Alto de Aitana – First you drive the familiar route. Puerto de Tudons, After that, there are another 6.7 km at an average of 7.8% km. The first 6.3 km of that section even run at 9.3% km.

3. Alto de la Comella – Only 4%.3 km from Andorra la Vella, but it’s 8.1 km instead. Suitable for those who prefer short, steep climbs rather than long, steady runs.

4. Sierra de la Pandera – The climb is 23.5 km long and has 1,325 meters of elevation gain from Los Villares, although the steep final section sometimes suggests a shorter climb. The final 4.1 km are at 13.5%. We rode part of this climb in 2025 and it was really beautiful.

5. Puerto de Velefique – Twenty kilometers of hairpins through the arid landscape of Almería, with 1,137 vertical meters. The climb is one of those ‘bucket list’ climbs in Andalusia

Five unknown Vuelta debutants

1. Collado del Alguacil – An unknown name with numbers for the outdoor category, despite its official classification as a second category.

2. Puerto de Peralejo – A long but irregular climb from Elche de la Sierra: 22.9 km, an average of 2.2% and a maximum of 8.4%.

3. Collado García – This northern ascent reaches 1,248 meters and appears for the first time in a major round.

4. Alto de Venta de la Cebada – A debut Andalusian climb of 823 meters, between Calar Alto and Mirador de la Cabra Montés.

5. Puerto de Artafi – With a top at 533 meters, Artafi looks modest, but his place after Pandera makes him interesting for his own Vuelta loop.

Of course, there are many beautiful climbs all over Spain, and this selection is just a list of climbs that we think are extra cool.

Which of these unknown climbs have you already completed?

We would love to hear additional tips for routes and good coffee at the bottom.