September 2, 2026
Yesterday's ride through Castilla–La Mancha was difficult but the sprinters made it and they will be thinking it could happen again today with a much easier parcours to contend with. An overnight transfer brought the race to the ancient port town of Cartagena for the start of 154 km of racing in the region of Murcia. There is very little to speak of on the route in the first 110 km. A few little kickers right as the riders leave Cartagena will offer a launch pad to establish a break but after that, it's predominantly flat as the race loops up the coast to Los Alcázares before cutting directly West for the remainder of the stage. When the race reaches Totana, there will be a combination Bonus and Intermediate Sprint before hitting the only categorized climb of the day. The Alto del Morrion de Totana rises out of Totana for nearly 8 km at an average gradient of 4.5%. Good news for the sprinters is that they have 33 km to stitch up any moves that may have gone on the climb before they reach the line. If it does come down to a bunch sprint, it could be a messy one. There are numerous corners as the route navigates the crossing of the Guadalentín River and enters the medieval town of Lorca with three corners in the last 1,200 meters including a dead 160 degree left onto the finish straight under 300 meters to go.
Race Summary
Skies were hazy at the start as the riders rolled out passed the amphitheater in Cartagena for a hot day in the sun. A break formed early with just four riders as many saw this as a pure opportunity for the sprinters. Those interested in a day up the road were Ethan Hayter of Soudal Quickstep, Domen Novak of UAE-XRG, Alessandro Covi of Jayco AlUla, and Sinuhé Fernández of Burgos-Burpellet BH. With 118 km to go, the quartet had just 1 minute 25 seconds on the peloton and it was no surprise to see Visma-Lease a Bike and Cofidis controlling proceedings.
The peloton was almost in single file flying towards Torre-Pacheco with a tail wind pushing them along and the gap was coming down, dipping under 1 minute, with 110 km remaining. Out of Torre-Pacheco, the only green that could be seen was from the palm trees scattered along the road side and cultivated almond groves, everything else was a scorched, burned brown.
Over the next few kilometers, the gap closed down to within 30 seconds and the bunch was looking nervous with the possibility of the wind shifting to a cross-tail wind. The landscape really opened up, as did the speed, and groups of riders were being shed out the back. About 50 riders were caught behind in a chase group as the front of the field was hammering away and catching the four leaders in the process. Lidl-Trek, Tudor Pro Cycling, and EF-Education EasyPost were the teams most interested in pushing on but the wind was simply not strong enough and the aggression was called off. It was all calm and with 82 km to go through Balsapintada, the race was back together.
A 10 km hiatus in the action allowed riders to get bottles and ice from the cars before a new break formed with Larry Warbasse of Tudor Pro Cycling and Hayter once again. Cofidis and Visma-Lease a Bike let Warbasse and Hayter dangle at 30 seconds but as they drew closer to the intermediate sprint in Totana, the gap closed in hopes of adding more points to the Green Jersey for Wout van Aert. The gap came down as low as 8 seconds but Visma-Lease a Bike called off the charge and allowed the gap to increase back out to 20 seconds by the time Hayter crossed the line for maximum points and the 6 bonus seconds. Van Aert did get up to take the field sprint for third to pad his lead the sprints competition.
Warbasse and Hayter hung out just in front of the bunch until 37 km to go when they were caught on the gentle lower slopes of the Alto del Morrion de Totana. 5 km from the top, Pinarello Q36.5 took up the pace and looked intent on making life hard for the sprinters. Riders were sent out the back but resources were running low for Pinarello Q36.5 with 2 km to the summit. Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike stuck to the back wheel of Eddie Dunbar who was setting the pace but one of van Aert's teammates let the wheel go which forced other teams to accelerate to close the gap. As hard as the pace was, the only fast men dropped were Rasmus Tiller of Uno-X Mobility and Alberto Dainese of Soudal Quickstep as van Aert popped out to take the KOM points ahead of Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain Victorious, leader in that competition.
The road didn't really go down from the summit but rather stair-stepped down all the way to the finish. Tudor Pro Cycling took the opportunity and tried to split the race over the top but Visma-Lease a Bike put a lid on the action by riding a hard pace on the front which quelled the attacking as they sped passed the medieval Torre del Homenaje with strategic vantage points across the valley. With 22 km to go, Uno-X Mobility showed belief in Magnus Cort and started riding with Visma-Lease a Bike to secure a bunch sprint opportunity.
Everyone conceded that the stage would end in a sprint and teams pushed forward to get into good position early with such a technical finale ahead. Visma-Lease a Bike were ever present as were race leaders Movistar, keeping Enric Mas safe, and Netcompany-Ineos. The bunch came roaring into Lorca with 7 km, now with Bahrain Victorious and NSN Cycling also in the mix at the front. As the streets became more narrow, Visma-Lease a Bike lined out the bunch through the twists and turns and were left to set the pace until 3.5 km to go when the road widened momentarily and other teams could move up. Uno-X Mobility came forward with four riders at 3 km to go and burned their men to keep Cort in good position coming up to the flamme rouge. Even after so much of the work all day, Visma-Lease a Bike made one last push with 800 meters to go with three men including van Aert and Matthew Brennan. Van Aert led through the hair pin corner with Brennan in second wheel followed by Bryan Coquard of Cofidis, Hugo Hofstetter of NSN Cycling, and Magnus Cort. Brennan launched first at 175 meters and was never threatened. He sailed across the line for his third win in this Vuelta ahead of Coquard and Jordi Meeus of Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe who did a good sprint after existing the last corner in sixth wheel.
There were no changes to the GC today as the favorites rested as much as they could for the brutal days of climbing that lie ahead.