Experience the passion and excitement of La Vuelta 2026 in the first week of the race! Catch the peloton in three separate countries, and follow the race from the mountains of Andorra all the way to the Mediterranean sea. Enjoy La Vuelta like never before, pedalling the stage routes just a few hours before the professionals, past crowds of cheering fans. After an exhilarating morning of cycling, enjoy the best views in the business from the exclusive VIP area, where you can watch the start or finish of the day’s stage as you sip a glass of champagne. As an official La Vuelta Tour Operator, Bike Spain Tours offers a spectacular cycling trip that captures the beauty of the routes and the highlights of the race, while you enjoy an exciting ride. The Vuelta is the most intimate of the three major professional cycling tours: the relaxed atmosphere and easy access to the professional cyclists and their teams make it a very special cycling experience. Our tours include stays in luxurious 4* and 5* hotels, VIP access to restricted race zones, full logistical support from our dedicated support van, expertly curated cycling routes, and the company of our experienced guides. Together, these elements ensure that your La Vuelta adventure will be not only an exceptional cycling experience, but also a memorable gastronomic and cultural journey showcasing the very best that Spain has to offer. As an official La Vuelta Tour Operator, Bike Spain guarantees access to the race; however, please note that specific events, dates and locations may be adjusted by the race organisation. Day 1: Sunday, August 23rd. Barcelona (Arrival day). Day at leisure in Barcelona. If you would like any assistance in booking extra nights, tours or activities to make the most of your time in the city, please contact your Bike Spain Travel advisor. Day 2: Monday, August 24th. Andorra La Vella. Route: 39.5 km/24.5 miles Elevation: +940 m/+3085 ft. 9am: Our Bike Spain Tours team will pick you up from your hotel in Barcelona. We’ll head north and get straight into our Vuelta experience by riding the spectacular final climb of today’s stage! This beautiful Pyrenean route takes us across the border into France and through the open landscapes of the Cerdanya valley, before climbing steadily past forested slopes and high mountain pastures toward Mont-Louis, with expansive views opening over the eastern Pyrenees. We’ll enjoy a sweeping descent into Font Romeu and across the finish line, before taking our places in the VIP finish area. Once we’ve cheered the peloton across the finish line, we’ll head to our hotel in Andorra. Here, we’ll carry out our welcome briefing and bike fitting. We’ll enjoy a brief warm-up ride around the charming mountaintop city of Andorra la Vella, before getting to know each other over a delicious dinner. Day 3: Tuesday, August 25th. Andorra. Route: 49.6 km/30.8 miles Elevation: +1570 m/+5150 ft. For the first time in La Vuelta’s history, Andorra La Vella will feature as a stage finish line! Today, we’ll take on two of the key climbs of today’s stage. 2026 will be the fifth time that La Vuelta has included a stage set entirely within the small principality of Andorra. The last Andorra stage was won in 2019 by Tadej Pogacar, marking his first ever Grand Tour stage victory! Starting in Andorra la Vella, we’ll roll out through the valley before the road tilts upward toward the elegant ascent of Col d’Ordino. The climb is steady and scenic, winding through pine forests and opening onto wide alpine views near the summit. A fast, flowing descent leads back toward the capital, offering a chance to recover before the second challenge of the day. The Alto de Comella may be shorter, but it is punchy and relentless, demanding careful pacing and rewarding effort with sweeping views over the valley. From the summit, the road drops quickly back into Andorra la Vella, where we’ll follow the final kilometers of today’s stage and cross the official finish line in the heart of the city, before heading to the VIP finish area to wait for the pros to arrive! Day 4: Wednesday, August 26th. Benicàssim. Route: 45.2 km/28.1 miles Elevation: +195 m/+640 ft. This morning, we’ll transfer south from Andorra along with the Vuelta teams. Our cycling route today begins in L’Ampolla, and follows the Ebro’s fertile plains past wide river vistas and gentle terrain. We’ll pass through the historic city of Tortosa before finishing in Roquetes, where we’ll head to the VIP finish area to await the arrival of the peloton. After another exciting Vuelta finish, we’ll head to our next hotel in Benicàssim. Day 5: Thursday, August 27th. Benicàssim. Route: 105.1 km/65.3 miles Elevation: +1072 m/+3517 ft. This morning, we’ll set out from our hotel and pedal up the coastline, with the sea sparkling to our right. The first section is relaxed and fast, passing charming beaches and small coves. In Alcossebre, we’ll soak up the Vuelta atmosphere in the departure village, and wave the riders off as they begin today’s stage. Once the final cyclist has disappeared into the distance, we’ll get back on our bikes and head toward one of the highlights of today’s Vuelta stage: the Desierto de las Palmas climb. This ascent is a true local classic—steady gradients that demand focus and rhythm, with pine-scented forest on either side and dramatic views opening up as you gain height. It’s a climb that rewards persistence with spectacular panoramas over the coast and hills. We’ll enjoy an adrenaline-fulled descent of sweeping turns and fabulous views, before returning to Benicàssim for an afternoon at leisure on the beach. Day 6: Friday, August 28th. Alicante. Route: 42.4 km/26.4 miles Elevation: +894 m/+2933 ft. In the morning, we’ll head to Vall d’Alba to enjoy another exciting Vuelta stage start! After seeing off the peloton, we’ll transfer south for the next stage of our tour. Once we arrive in the town of Orba, it’s time for today’s cycle route! We’ll climb steadily through classic Marina Alta terrain, with sustained gradients and panoramic views across the Serrella and Bernia ranges before cresting the high point near Tàrbena. A flowing descent takes us back toward the coast, transitioning from rugged limestone hills to orange groves and finally the Mediterranean shoreline, finishing at our accommodation: Hotel Cap Negret in Altea. Day 7: Saturday, August 29th. Alicante. Route: 100.1 km/62.2 miles Elevation: +1863 m/+6112 ft. Today, we’ll be taking on the iconic Coll de Rates, one of Spain’s most frequently used training climbs by the professional peloton. The ascent is steady and consistent. Smooth tarmac, predictable gradients, and minimal traffic make it perfectly suited to focused training, while the open hillside offers expansive views back toward the Mediterranean. After cresting the summit, the loop continues with a fast, technical descent. Sweeping bends and well-surfaced roads allow you to maintain speed while staying fully in control, before the terrain gradually eases on the return toward the coast. Day 8: Sunday, August 30th. Alicante. Route: 59.4 km/36.9 miles Elevation: +2087 m/+6847 ft. For our final ride, we’ll be taking on the Alto de Aitana, one of the most imposing climbs in the region and the finish line for the final stage of the first week of the race. The climb unfolds in long, sustained ramps, climbing ever higher through forests and exposed sections where the scale of the landscape becomes clear. As the altitude increases, the environment becomes more austere and alpine in character. At the top, we’ll catch our breath in the VIP section, cheering on the pros as they tackle the very same summit finish! Day 9: Monday, August 31st (Departure day). After breakfast, our La Vuelta bike tour comes to an end. Arrival airport: Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat (BCN). Direct flights to Barcelona are widely available from many international destinations. Departure airport: Alicante (ALC) or Madrid (MAD). Alicante is well-connected by high-speed train to Madrid, and boasts its own airport with connections to a number of destinations within Europe. Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Eixample 1864. Catalonia Eixample 1864 is a stylish hotel in the heart of Barcelona’s elegant Eixample district, set in a beautifully preserved 19th-century building with a distinctive painted façade and just steps from Passeig de Gràcia’s shops and modernist landmarks. Accommodation: Hotel Yomo Mola Park. Located within easy distance of Andorra La Vella, and right next to Caldea, the largest thermal spa in Europe, the Yomo Mola Park is the perfect place to recharge your batteries during your bike tour of La Vuelta a España! Accommodation: Albades Hotel and Spa. Albades Hotel is a modern, elegant retreat set just steps from the Mediterranean in the heart of Benicàssim. Designed with comfort and calm in mind, the hotel offers a relaxed coastal atmosphere where contemporary style meets warm, personal hospitality. Accommodation: Hotel Cap Negret. Hotel Cap Negret is a celebrated seafront hotel in Altea, Alicante, known for its prime location right on Playa del Cap Negret with direct beach access and sea views from most rooms. The hotel combines relaxed coastal charm with modern comfort, featuring a large infinity pool and solarium, gym and wellness area, and multiple spots to enjoy Mediterranean and international cuisine. Included: 8 nights accommodation in 4* and 5* hotels (based on double room occupation), Buffet breakfasts, 5 dinners with wine, La Vuelta VIP access passes, Support vehicle to provide technical assistance and offer refreshments and snacks, Bilingual and experienced Bike Spain Tours guides, Special gifts: Bike Spain Tours handle bar bag, water bottle, luggage tags and a bike jersey, Travel insurance with medical assistance, Gratuities for baggage, restaurants and hotel service. Not included: Lunches and 3 dinners, Airport transfers. Optional: Single supplement: 575€, Extra nights: on request. Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Carbon road Bike. The Tarmac Disc Sport SL7 is the perfect bike for high performance road cycling. With a state-of-the-art FACT 9r carbon fibre frame, a list of highly reliable components such as powerful... Bikes: Electric Bike Specialized Vado Turbo SL. There’s no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this, at a weight that’s light enough to carry. The Turbo Vado SL 4.0 is best for... Bikes: Electric Bike Specialized CREO Turbo. Limited availability.
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