Ten months ahead of the much-anticipated Grand Départ of La Vuelta 26, the official routes for Monaco’s stages were unveiled at One Monte-Carlo on October the 25th by the Vuelta 2026 Steering Committee…
Next August, the Principality will once again take centre stage in the world of cycling, becoming the only city in history to have hosted the start of all three Grand Tours; the Giro d’Italia in 1966, the Tour de France in 2009, and now La Vuelta.
Speaking at the presentation, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II highlighted the symbolic importance of the event: “Through this sporting event, we have the opportunity to show another facet of our country — one that promotes sport in its most noble and popular sense. Hosting La Vuelta is more than a celebration of athletic performance; it is a symbol of openness and global reach for our nation, which this year holds the title of World Capital of Sport.”
Monaco’s Minister of State, H.E. Christophe Mirmand, added: “We are 300 days away from the Grand Départ of La Vuelta 26, and Monaco is preparing to write a new chapter in its brilliant sporting history.”
Javier Guillén, General Director of La Vuelta, praised the Principality’s pedigree: “Monaco is synonymous with sporting excellence and organisational capability. Launching La Vuelta here is both an honour and a guarantee of success for everyone involved.”
Festivities will begin on Thursday, 20 August, with the traditional team presentation, leading up to the individual time trial on Saturday, 22 August. The 9.6 km route will start from Place du Casino and weave through Monaco’s most iconic landmarks — from the Hôtel de Paris and Fairmont hairpin to Port Hercule, Fontvieille, and the Stade Louis II — before finishing on the Formula 1 Grand Prix line.
The following day, Sunday, 23 August, the second stage will begin with a ceremonial start at the Prince’s Palace Square before a real start from the Jardin Exotique, as riders head toward France. The ceremony also included a symbolic handover from Italy, which hosted La Vuelta’s 2025 start, to Monaco — setting the stage for another historic cycling spectacle in the Principality.
