La Vuelta Femenina 2026 Preview — stages, favourites and TV times ahead of Sunday's race
CyclingThursday, 30 April 2026 at 14:02
The spring classics are done. While the men turn their attention to the Giro d'Italia, the women's peloton heads to north-west Spain for La Vuelta Femenina. Over seven stages, a successor to Demi Vollering will be crowned. IDL Pro Cycling brings you everything you need to know.
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A brief history of La Vuelta Femenina
La Vuelta Femenina was born in 2015 as a one-day race. It stayed in that format until 2017, before expanding to two stages — a time trial and a criterium. A road stage was added in 2020, another in 2021, and by 2022 the race had grown to five stages. From 2023, it moved to a dedicated May slot on the calendar and extended to seven stages. That became eight in 2024, then back to seven in 2025. This year: seven stages again.
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The last two editions belonged to Vollering. Before her, Annemiek van Vleuten won three in a row from 2021 to 2023. Ellen van Dijk (2018) and Jolien D'hoore (2016, 2017) show this race is one that is often dominated by Dutch riders. Will the trend continue in 2026?
Recent winners La Vuelta Femenina
2025 Demi Vollering
2024 Demi Vollering2023 Annemiek van Vleuten
2022 Annemiek van Vleuten
2021 Annemiek van Vleuten
2020 Lisa Brennauer
2019 Lisa Brennauer
2018 Ellen van Dijk
2017 Jolien D'hoore
2016 Jolien D'hoore
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La Vuelta Femenina 2026: Stages, favourites and start times
Stage 1, Sunday, May 3: Marín - Salvaterra de Miño (113.9 km)
The race starts in Marín, just north of Vigo. Two third-category climbs feature along the way, though the day is rolling throughout. After 113.9 km, the riders arrive in Salvaterra de Miño for an uphill sprint finish.
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Favorites
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Times
Start: 11:35 a.m.
Finish: around 2:30 p.m.
Start: 11:35 a.m.
Finish: around 2:30 p.m.
Stage 2, Monday, May 4: Lobios - San Cibrao das Viñas (109.8 km)
No categorised climbs, but the road is never flat. The route rises from the very start in Lobios, and the finale has bite: a two-kilometre ramp at 5.5% ends just before the final kilometre, which is flat.
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Favorites
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Times
Start: 2:17 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Start: 2:17 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Stage 3, Tuesday, May 5: Padrón - A Coruña (121.2 km)
The riders head north to A Coruña, where a tricky finale awaits. The route is hilly without being genuinely mountainous. Short, sharp climbs in the finale could invite attacks.
Favorites
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Times
Start: 2:04 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Start: 2:04 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Stage 4, Wednesday, May 6: Monforte de Lemos - Antas de Ulla (115.6 km)
Two more third-category climbs, and the usual relentless Galician up-and-down. The final kilometre rises slightly to the finish. Look out for the Classics specialists to do well on Wednesday afternoon.
Favorites
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Liane Lippert (Movistar)
Times
Start: 2:18 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Start: 2:18 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Stage 5, Thursday, May 7: León - Astorga (119.6 km)
The riders spend much of the day on a plateau. By Galician standards, the climbing is minimal, and the finish is almost entirely flat — except for a slight rise in the final 300 metres. Timing will be everything.
Favorites
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sókja (Canyon//SRAM Sundacrypto)
Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sókja (Canyon//SRAM Sundacrypto)
Times
Start: 2:16 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Start: 2:16 p.m.
Finish: around 5:15 p.m.
Stage 6, Friday, May 8: Gijón - Les Praeres. Nava (106.5 km)
The GC contenders have had to wait, but Friday finally delivers. The race heads south from Gijón to a summit finish at Les Praeres — not long, but brutal: just under four kilometres at an average of 12.6%.
Favorites
Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ United)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ United)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Times
Start: 2:53 p.m.
Finish: around 5:45 p.m.
Start: 2:53 p.m.
Finish: around 5:45 p.m.
Stage 7, Saturday, May 9: La Pola Llaviana - L'Angliru (132.9 km)
The organisers have saved the best for last. Three climbs precede the finale — then the Angliru: 12.1 km at an average of 10.3%, one of the most feared ascents in all of cycling. The entire race could be decided on this climb, so make sure to watch on Saturday lunchtime.
Favorites
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM sinacrypto)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM sinacrypto)
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Times
Start: 10:36 a.m.
Finish: around 2:30 p.m.
Start: 10:36 a.m.
Finish: around 2:30 p.m.
La Vuelta Femenina 2026 GC Favourites
Vollering will not be on the start line in Galicia. The two-time defending champion is taking extra rest after a busy and successful spring, leaving FDJ-SUEZ United to count on Juliette Berthet — fifth overall last year. The Frenchwoman gets to race for herself, with Évita Muzic — a stage winner here in 2024 — as support.
France is well represented. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the reigning Tour de France Femmes champion, also lines up, with Femke de Vries — third at the UAE Tour — alongside her. Ferrand-Prévot has yet to win in 2026, but has put together a string of strong results. Much the same can be said of Kasia Niewiadoma, leader of Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto and 2024 Tour winner.
UAE Team ADQ have three options to consider. Mavi García looks the most likely card to play, but Paula Blasi and Karlijn Swinkels add genuine depth. The picture at SD Worx-Protime is clearer: Anna van der Breggen is the designated leader. The 35-year-old has shown excellent form through the spring and will be highly motivated on the climbs.
Urska Zigart and Sarah Gigante — riding her first race since a serious leg fracture last year — are dangerous outsiders for AG Insurance-Soudal. Liv AlUla Jayco will look to Monica Trinca Coronel, who finished second at the UAE Tour earlier this year, along with Ella Wyllie, 12th at last year's Tour.
Further down the pecking order, watch for Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Movistar's Mareille Meijer.
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
IDL Pro Cycling La Vuelta Femenina 2026 top picks
Top favorites: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto)
Outsiders: Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ United) Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ United), Femke de Vries (Visma | Lease a Bike), Urska Zigart (AG Insurance-Soudal), Monica Trinca Coronel (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Mareille Meijer (Movistar)
Outsiders: Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ United) Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Long shots: Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ United), Femke de Vries (Visma | Lease a Bike), Urska Zigart (AG Insurance-Soudal), Monica Trinca Coronel (Liv AlUla Jayco) and Mareille Meijer (Movistar)
How to watch La Vuelta Femenina 2026 on TV?
Below you can find where to watchLa Vuelta Femenina on TV in English:
- United Kingdom - HBO Max now carries all of the UK cycling coverage.
- USA - You will need a subscription to Peacock to watch the racing in the USA.
- Canada - FloBikes carries the stream for Canadian fans. Again you will need a subscription
- Australia -Australian fans can watch both the men's and women's races for free on SBS on Demand
- In Europe, viewers can catch all the action on Eurosport
IDL-productions
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Latest Comments
- Here is a novel idea......it's a road bike race, stick to smooth asphalt courses! Cobble is like mild off-road cross riding!!!!Germanrazor14-04-2026
- To lose a race like that on a mechanical problem in this day and age is unforgivable. Why aren't all riders using the same (interchangeable) gear? It is the job of the team manager to manage and reduce risk variables. The fact that he not only didn't pick up on the potential issue but actually ok'd it is just madness.fatehasfans13-04-2026
- Rider X, y and z? Could you update?yaNzKEWL21-03-2026
- Can anyone help me understand the thinking behind the two punishments? Are the commissaires saying you get thrown out of the race for a second inadvertent disposal of a bidon (even to the delight of fans) but that as long as you can afford it you can show off your phalangeal cuticles all day long on international TV? Aking for a friend.packfiller7112-03-2026
- It's a bit embarrassing that. Isn't the main sponsor supposed to keep them at 36.5 ?tomjacques03-03-2026
- They were close to cracking a very tired Tadej that wasn't fully focused on the TdF with a team of riders focused solely on cracking Tadej. And if they cracked him, he would have still won. Tadej won't be racing the giro this year. It'll be an even easier win for him.Veganpotter09-02-2026
- Nice!Bea22-01-2026
- Those events are mental rest for him. Fun, without expectations. *Sagan lost his abilities because he gained weight and got lazy. Pogi will likely retire before that has a chance at happening.Veganpotter14-12-2025
- Ah, the consequences of riding for Israel.Veganpotter11-12-2025
- Pidcock could follow everyone but Pogi while finishing 3rd. No second place rider this season😃Veganpotter16-11-2025
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