Stage 12 of La Vuelta 2026 brings five mountain climbs and a summit finish at Calar Alto. Enric Mas faces direct threats from Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall. The race returns to a legendary Andalusian peak after nine years.
La Vuelta returned to Calar Alto for the first time in nine years, and the Andalusian summit delivered a stage that left the general classification wide open. Riders faced five mountain passes, ending with a tough climb to the observatory at 2,100 meters. This was a day that demanded everything from the contenders.
Enric Mas started Stage 12 in the leader’s jersey for Movistar, but his advantage over Primoz Roglic (Red Bull) and Felix Gall (Decathlon) was slim. Both rivals were just over a minute behind and saw the final climbs as their best chance to put Mas under pressure. The Alto de Velefique set the tone for the decisive finish at Calar Alto.
The official start of Stage 12 was set for 13:07 local time, with live television coverage beginning at 12:40 on Teledeporte, La 1, and RTVE Play.
The 166.6-kilometer route from Vera offered little relief. Each climb tested the riders’ legs and tactics, especially the last two first-category ascents. Calar Alto’s return brought back memories of past winners like Roberto Heras, Igor Antón, and Miguel Ángel López. According to the official race profile, the stage included five categorized climbs—Alto del Cabecico, Alto de Cóbdar, Collado García, Alto de Velefique, and the summit finish at Calar Alto—with a total elevation gain of about 4,500 to 4,570 meters.
Televisión Española and RTVE Play broadcast the stage live, with Carlos de Andrés and Perico Delgado on commentary. Radio Nacional de España and TDP Noticias provided updates for listeners, and Teledeporte’s social media channels shared interviews and highlights. Spanish sports outlets noted the rarity of Calar Alto’s inclusion, with the summit absent from La Vuelta for nearly a decade.
Calar Alto’s altitude and unpredictable weather have often changed the race’s outcome. The 2026 return was a clear move by organizers to add uncertainty and drama to the second week. As reported earlier, Spanish sporting events this season have been full of high-stakes moments, and Stage 12 fit that pattern.
Jakob Omrzel claimed victory on Stage 12, while Enric Mas further consolidated his lead in the red jersey atop Calar Alto. According to race updates, Mas had already taken the overall lead after Stage 8, and his rivals Roglic and Gall trailed by minutes rather than seconds after Stage 7.
Andalusia’s mountains have always tested La Vuelta’s best. Finishing at Calar Alto, a place known for both breakthroughs and collapses, kept the general classification in play deep into the race. With Mas under pressure from Roglic and Gall, the outcome of Stage 12 could shape the rest of the tour. The combination of a summit finish and a series of hard climbs meant only the strongest and smartest riders would stay in contention. In La Vuelta, no leader’s advantage is safe until Madrid.
