Women’s cycling has been breaking barriers in recent years, with iconic climbs like the Zoncolan, Blockhaus, Alpe d’Huez, and Tourmalet gradually being incorporated into Grand Tours. But this year, La Vuelta (with the Giro Women also featuring the Finestre climb) will reach a new milestone in its still young history. The fearsome Angliru, one of the toughest climbs in the world, will serve as the decisive judge for this edition (May 3-9, broadcast on TDP and Eurosport) of the Spanish tour.
It will undoubtedly produce historic images that fans will never forget, but before reaching that seventh and final stage, there is plenty to unpack. It starts with a thrilling opening in Galicia, featuring its classic medium-mountain terrain that offers no respite. After a couple of transitional days that will give breakaway opportunities, the final crescendo arrives in Asturias. The “fabada” (a local stew) will be served by Les Praeres, and the “cachopo” (the main dish) is the aforementioned Angliru, which, with its impossible ramps exceeding 23%, will make its debut in professional women’s cycling, deciding the champion of the 2026 La Vuelta.
The two-time defending champion, Demi Vollering, will not be in the fight. This year, she has chosen to skip La Vuelta in favor of the Giro Women (starting May 30), the only Grand Tour she has yet to win. That opens up a new range of possibilities for Kasia Niewiadoma and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, winners of the last two Tours de France, who start as the top favorites (alongside Van der Breggen, Kopecky, Lippert, and Moolman). Carrying no pressure as this is her first Grand Tour, but with maximum enthusiasm after emerging in the Ardennes as the new face of women’s cycling, Paula Blasi (23 years old) will be on the starting line.
Her performance on a climb like the Angliru is a complete unknown, but she will have her teammate and mentor at UAE, Mavi García, who is facing her final Vuelta (she will retire at the end of this season). “Paula is like me, but 20 years younger. I want to share everything I know with her so she learns as fast as possible. I would love to compete for the overall classification, and I think Paula can be there with me,” says Mavi. A before and after for La Vuelta.