Stage 20 of Vuelta a España 2026 runs from La Calahorra to Collado del Alguacil over 187 km. The official route classifies it as mountain, and the stage page is the utility view to keep open for route details and timing as the race gets closer.
Terrain and profile: The final mountain stage is huge: more than five thousand metres of climbing, the double pressure of Hazallanas and Purche, and a brutally steep finish at Collado del Alguacil.
How the stage is likely to race: This is the last full invitation to race the general classification from distance. Teams that still need time have almost no reason to wait, and the gradients on the final 8.3 kilometres are severe enough to turn any earlier effort into real damage.
Likely winner archetype: A pure climber with deep reserves for the third week is the obvious match.
Prospective winners: the last surviving GC climbers and any attacker confident enough to go well before the final ascent.
The rider picture is still early, so keep the initial Vuelta a España 2026 startlist in view as squads firm up. For the full route context around this stage, jump back to the 2026 edition page.