Monaco opens Vuelta with explosive time trial

The 2026 Vuelta a España begins on Saturday with a 9.4-kilometre individual time trial held entirely within Monaco. The first rider will start at 16:17 and the final arrival is scheduled for around 19:30.

The route starts beside the Monte Carlo Casino and includes 13 corners, hairpins and roundabouts, three tunnels and several short climbs. It passes the Fairmont hairpin, the Boulevard Louis II tunnel, Port Hercules and the Louis II Stadium before finishing on Boulevard Albert I.

The short distance should produce small gaps, but the technical course will punish positioning or braking errors. Time trial specialists will target the first red jersey, while the general-classification contenders must avoid losing valuable seconds on the opening day.