The 2026 Vuelta a España gives Enric Mas the toughest test of his career on its hardest stage. The penultimate day in the mountains around Granada features 4,890 meters of climbing and five major ascents. The final climb, Collado del Alguacil, is making its debut and could decide the race.
Collado del Alguacil is new to the Vuelta but well known to local cyclists. Its southern side, first explored by the late Xavi Tondo, is infamous for steep, relentless gradients and few real breaks. Many riders have trained here because of its proximity to Sierra Nevada, but that familiarity offers little comfort when the heat rises and the road rarely eases below double digits.
The Collado del Alguacil is making its debut as a summit finish in the Vuelta a España, having never before featured as a stage finale in the race's history.
This year, Granada is basic to the action. The stage starts in La Calahorra and finishes atop Collado del Alguacil, pairing local pride with a brutal sporting challenge. Luis Ángel Maté, who retired in 2024 and knows these roads well, calls it “one of the hardest stages in Vuelta history.” He says replacing the washed-out Hazallanas climb with El Duque has made the stage harder, describing El Duque as “the crown jewel” for local cycling fans.
Riders will also have to tackle El Purche twice before the final showdown. The steep gradients and expected high temperatures put even those with a solid lead at risk of cracking. Mas starts the day with a 1:37 advantage over Primoz Roglic, but Maté warns that no lead feels safe on a stage like this.
Several leading cycling publications call the 20th stage the 'queen stage' of the 2026 Vuelta. It features five categorized climbs, with total elevation gain estimated at between 4,890 and 5,120 meters, depending on the calculation method. Expected Andalusian heat and the inclusion of El Purche and El Duque before the final ascent add to the route's difficulty.
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Tadej Pogacar is missing from the start after an accident two weeks ago. His absence removes a major rival but leaves the day no more predictable. Most of the peloton has experience in the Sierra Nevada, which might help with pacing, but the route's sheer difficulty leaves little margin for error. As reported earlier, Mas held his lead through the Jerez time trial. Today's mountain stage is a different challenge altogether.
The challenge goes beyond the figures: almost 5,000 meters of climbing over 187 kilometers also brings a mental test. Collado del Alguacil's constant steepness and the heat radiating off the Andalusian roads will weigh on the riders. A single bad moment could undo years of work. The decision to reroute via El Duque after winter storms has only made the stage harder.
With the final day in Granada expected to be mostly ceremonial, today's stage is the last real fight. The result will likely decide the winner and set a new standard for what riders can endure in a Grand Tour. Collado del Alguacil demands strong legs and nerve. The organizers have raised the stakes, and the peloton must respond with everything it has left.
