- Stage 3: Gruissan - Font-Romeu
- Date: August 24, 2026
- Distance: 174km
- Elevation gain: 2,639m
- Start time: 13:21 CEST
- Finish time: 17:18 CEST
The Vuelta a España heads into the Pyrenees for stage 3, which could be a reduced sprint or another unexpected opportunity to reshuffle the general classification.
The stage includes a long ascent of the Col de Mont-Louis, followed by a much shorter ascent to Font Romeu. Although the GC is tight, with only 10 seconds separating the top three and 27 seconds separating the top 10, it will be unlikely that Pogačar will lose the leader's jersey. The rest of the top-10 could see some changes, however.
The first category 1 climb, and the first summit finish in a mid-mountain Pyrenean stage are likely to mark the first bigger selection among the contenders for the overall victory, but as much of the stage takes place on flat terrain, the GC should remain fairly tight on the eve of the first high mountain stage.
The initial part of the route skirts a vast wetland area before passing Perpignan and heading south-west through a stretch of vineyards, then climbs the Têt valley through Villefranche-de-Conflent for the intermediate sprint at 129 kilometres. The road keeps climbing to the little-known Col de Mont-Louis, then straight on to the final climb of Font-Romeu, at 1,936 metres.
Pogačar predicted the stage would suit his team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, as they protect the leader's jersey.
"Tomorrow is a different scenario for the red jersey, as the race is already climbing, and maybe every day we will have to assess what we have to do in the middle of the stage if it's worth to keep pushing for it for red jersey or not. But the next two days are good for us, so maybe we can keep the jersey for another two days and maybe go for the stage too.""
Stage details
Climbs
- Col de Mont-Louis (cat. 1, 19.4km at 4.8%), km. 157.8
- Font-Romeu (cat. 2, 9.8km at 5%), km. 174
Sprints
- Villefranche-de-Conflent, km. 129
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