With five stages left in La Vuelta 2026, Enric Mas (Movistar) leads the general classification by just over two minutes as riders prepare for a 32.1 km individual time trial from El Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la Frontera. Felix Gall (Decathlon) and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull) are closing in as the race nears its end.
Thursday's stage is designed for time trial specialists. The route has just 190 meters of elevation gain: the first five kilometers are flat, followed by a short three-kilometer rise with 36 meters of climbing. The course then stays flat for ten kilometers. Two gentle bumps above 100 meters follow, before an 11-kilometer run to the line.
The first rider is scheduled to start at 14:06 local time, with race leader Enric Mas set to roll down the ramp last at 16:55.
Every second will matter. Time gaps could decide who wears the red jersey when the race finishes in Granada on Sunday. Wind may play a part, and after 17 stages, fatigue is a real factor. The only impressive climb comes just after Lomopardo; otherwise, riders face a flat, fast course against the clock.
Recent results suggest the contest is wide open. Tadej Pogacar won the Monaco prologue. Among the basic GC contenders, Roglic finished 11 seconds ahead of Mas, while Gall lost 13 seconds to Mas and 24 to Roglic. These small differences could prove decisive over a longer, tougher course.
Stage coverage begins at 14:50 on Teledeporte and La 2, with RTVE Play also carrying the broadcast. Updates will run on RNE and TDP Noticias. The broadcast will follow every split as the leaders try to defend or overhaul the standings.
The stage features intermediate time checks at approximately 11.7 km and 22.1 km, making it especially sensitive to aerodynamics and sustained power output. Gall is 2:06 behind Mas in the GC, and Roglic is 2:10 back.
La Vuelta's time trials have often changed the race when the standings are this close. The flat profile suits specialists, but accumulated fatigue and the pressure of defending a narrow lead can bring surprises. Mas needs to limit his losses and hold off two rivals with strong time trial records. For Gall and Roglic, this is a chance to attack and change the race. The outcome will shape the podium and could define this year's edition.
