The Vuelta a Espana is established as the third and final of cycling's three-week races, also known as the Grand Tours, and is held annually between August and September.
Like the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, the Vuelta comprises 21 stages and traverses various terrains and disciplines in the quest to find a winner.
The race offers typically offers around €1,100,000 in prize money, with about €150,000 going to the winner and €11,000 for each stage victory.
Dates & Times
The 82nd Vuelta a Espana is due to start in August 2026, with an official date yet to be released.
Schedule
The full route has yet to be published and will be confirmed by the race organisers in due course.
Format
The Vuelta a Espana follows the same format as the other grand tours, which includes 21 stages raced over three weeks.
Teams qualify as opposed to individuals, with the 18 World Teams given automatic qualification and Pro Teams will receive wildcard invitations.
There are no rounds or heats and stages are point-to-point rather than lap based. Time trials are raced individually against the clock.
Locations & Route
The 2026 Vuelta a Espana starts across the border in the principality of Monaco, before crossing through both Frances and Andorra and skirting the Mediterranean coast before ending in Granada.
Prize Money
Recent editions of the Vuelta a Espana have offered a total prize pool of around €1,100,000.
The overall winner typically receives around €150,000, with €11,000 awarded for each stage victory.
Additional prizes are given for points, mountains, young rider classifications and team performances.
Previous Winners
Jonas Vingegaard is the defending champion of the Vuelta a Espana, having won the 2025 edition.
A list of all the previous winners can be found here.
