![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026_9058_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe constant elevation and tricky finales should prevent any chill sections. Nope, it will be two days of tough action that requires anyone who wants to do well at the end of this race, to be up there.<\/p>\n
Stage 3: A day for the sprinters<\/p>\n From Padr\u00f3n to A Coru\u00f1a, the parcours finally eases..well, at least in terms of hills. Speed will still be a factor. It\u2019s the clearest opportunity for fast finishers. Positioning will still matter on exposed coastal roads. If it\u2019s windy, there may be sports.<\/p>\n Stage 4: Punchy finale<\/p>\n Monforte de Lemos to Antas de Ulla ends on a rise. It\u2019s short, sharp, and ideal for late attacks. Time gaps may be small, but they\u2019ll count.<\/p>\n Stage 5: Transition day\u2026but windy?<\/p>\n A flatter run from Le\u00f3n offers a bit of a break on paper. But once again, wind could split the race and punish any lapse in focus. GC riders will need to be near the front.<\/p>\n Stage 6: A proper mountain stage<\/p>\n The climb to Les Praeres is steep, irregular and unforgiving. Stage 6 brings the first true mountain showdown.<\/p>\n Stage 7: Angliru decides all<\/p>\n Everything points to the final ascent of the Alto de L\u2019Angliru, where extreme gradients will settle the overall. If the race isn\u2019t already broken, it will be here. It\u2019s one of the most (in)famous climbs in cycling, and for the first time, the women will tackle this leg-breaker. It will make for an incredible final stage.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Some of the top riders include Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON\/\/SRAM zondacrypto), Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx \u2013 Protime), Noemi R\u00fcegg (EF Education-Oatly), Juliette Berthet (FDJ United \u2013 SUEZ), Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx \u2013 Protime) and Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx \u2013 Protime).<\/p>\n Van Dam to Spain<\/p>\n Another top rider is Victoria\u2019s Sarah Van Dam<\/a> (Visma-Lease a Bike) who has been an absolute force this year. She had a fantastic 2025 with some top results, but has quickly become one of the big names in the women\u2019s peloton.<\/p>\n Sarah Van Dam already delivering at Visma, Dutch ties aside<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n She has a few chances during the Vuelta, but will also be a key teammate to Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot. PFP hasn\u2019t been quite as dominant as last year, so that role may switch around if the Canadian finds herself up in the GC. It appears that Van Dam will be the sole Canuck racing the Tour of Spain. Alison Jackson<\/a>, a winner of a stage in 2024 won\u2019t be there. That is most likely due to her racing for the French team. St Michel \u2013 Preference Home \u2013 Auber93, this year. They are not racing the Vuelta. There may be a few more Canadians added in the next day as not all of the teams have filled out their roster.<\/p>\n<\/a>
Expect aggressive racing and the GC to start taking shape immediately. Anyone who wants to be up there in the overall needs to be sharp.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n