Saint-Perpétue, Que.’s Hugo Houle has left the 2026 Vuelta a España, leaving his Alpecin-Premier Tech team with a very, very reduced squad. He’s been active in the break several times, using the Spanish Grand Tour to prepare for the 2026 Road Worlds in Montréal, but unfortunately, he will not be making it to Madrid.
“Hugo Houle has abandoned La Vuelta. After a demanding couple of weeks, the accumulated fatigue combined with another very hot day forced Hugo to call it a day,” his team posted. “We continue La Vuelta with three riders.”
Next up for Houle
The 2022 Tour de France stage winner is part of a very strong Road Worlds team that includes several of his old teammates from his previous team, Israel-Premier Tech. Lidl-Trek’s Derek Gee-West of Osgoode, Ont., is the leader of the team, and the hilly parcours certainly suits the talented climber. He will have help from the retired, but not retired, Mike Woods. Woods has said it’s a major goal of his to be there for Gee-West in his bid for a top result.
Hugo Houle is removed from his mural in Montreal, and replaced by another rider
Both Woods and Gee-West will be riding the Grand Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal. Houle will not be permitted to jump into either race, as UCI rules generally dictate that a rider cannot abandon one race to compete in another that overlaps.
Stage 15 of the Vuelta is a short but tough—and hot—run from Palma del Río to Córdoba. The riders will only do 110.2 km, but there are three categorized climbs before the descent into Córdoba.