Stage 16: Cortegana – La Rábida. Palos de la FronteraDate: September 8, 2026Distance: 181.1kmElevation gain: 1,914Start time: 13:18 CESTFinish time: 17:19 CESTStage details
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At last a nailed on day for the fast men
(Image credit: Unipublic)
(Image credit: Unipublic)
For stage 16, the Vuelta a España is in the province of Huelva, to open up the third week of racing with a rare opportunity for the sprinters.
While its not an entirely flat day, by any means, with plenty of terrain suitable for the break riders to use as a launching point early, the largely downhill run through the later stages as the race heads towards the coast should give the sprinters teams the chance to pull the race back together for a bunch sprint. And when we say sprinter’s teams, of course everyone will be looking to Visma-Lease a Bike.
Matthew Brennan has already conquered three stages and Wout van Aert has also now cracked the winning formula, having taken two of the last three stages, so all eyes will be on the duo as the 181km stage heads towards its conclusion.
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The day of racing starts in Cortegana, headind south on winding terrain for the first half of the stage, rolling through the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche national park before skirting the Cerro Colorado mine and the Gossan reservoir. The battle to join the breakaway in the opening undulating 88 kilometres will likely be fierce.
The road then flattens out towards the intermediate sprint in Villarasa, 114.5 kilometres in. The peloton continues towards the coast, passing through Palos de la Frontera. the historic town from which Columbus’s caravels departed, before reaching the finish line in La Rábida. If the wind is blowing, the final 11 kilometres, which follow the Atlantic coast, could bring some surprises.
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