2026 Vuelta a España Stage 21 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 21 of the 2026 Vuelta a España! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
At just shy of 100 kilometres, the final stage of the 2026 Vuelta unfolds in and around Granada. A finishing circuit is completed five times, each lap featuring a partially cobbled climb of 1 kilometre at 7.3%. On the final passage, the finish line is positioned just below the summit. Als je wilt, kan ik: het korter en strakker maken (preview-stijl), het neutraler maken (officiële routebeschrijving), of juist opinionated / column-achtig herschrijven.
Granada is the city of the Alhambra, the Moorish palace complex perched atop the Sabika Hill. Not a bad place, the organisers must have thought, to stage the finish of the Vuelta a España — so close to one of the world’s most visited tourist landmarks. There was also a practical reason to steer clear of Madrid, with the Formula One circus arriving there the same weekend. As a result, the Alhambra will feature prominently on screen as the peloton sweeps past.
The stage begins with a 65-kilometre loop to the west of Granada, allowing for the traditional end-of-Grand-Tour celebrations. The calm lasts for around 60 kilometres, before the finale is sparked by five short, sharp ramps spread across as many laps, designed to tear the peloton apart. It is a short and sharp ramp at the foot of the Alhambra, comparable to the repeated ascent of Montmartre in the Tour de France finale.
There is, however, one key difference. While the Tour finishes on the flat of the Champs-Élysées, the winner in Granada will need far more explosive qualities. This is a finale that demands a powerful kick, capable of carrying a rider over the rising finish line. Get more details at cyclingstage.com.
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