Stage 1
Monaco → Monaco
Stage 1 opens the 2026 Vuelta with a 9.6km individual time trial on the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit — the first F1-circuit Grand Tour opener in cycling history and the Vuelta's first-ever Monaco start. Technical urban TT through Monaco's narrow streets and tunnel sections; rewards bike-handlers as much as power riders.
Watch this stage
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What the stage looks like
Stage 1 opens the 2026 Vuelta with a 9.6km individual time trial on the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit — the first F1-circuit Grand Tour opener in cycling history and the Vuelta's first-ever Monaco start. Technical urban TT through Monaco's narrow streets and tunnel sections; rewards bike-handlers as much as power riders.
What to follow
- Historic Monaco F1 circuit opener: first ever Grand Tour stage to use a Formula 1 race track.
- Vuelta's second-ever foreign start (after Utrecht 2022): Monaco location adds glamour and prestige.
- Technical urban TT: tunnel + narrow Monaco streets demand bike-handling over pure power.
When to tune in
Watch the tunnel section — riders ride blind for a few seconds entering the harbour-side tunnel. Time gaps will be small on the short 9.6km but the maglia rojo battle starts here.