Monaco to Host the Grand Départ of La Vuelta 2026
With ten months to go before La Vuelta 2026 departs from Monaco, the Vuelta 2026 Steering Committee has unveiled the official routes that will take place in the Principality for this major sporting event of next year.
After having launched the Giro in 1966 and hosted the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2009, Monaco is preparing to vibrate once again to the rhythm of cycling, becoming the only city in the world to have hosted the start of all three Grand Tours.
“Through this sporting event, we have the opportunity to show the world another side of our country, one that promotes popular sport in its noblest sense. Hosting La Vuelta is far more than a celebration of sport, of its athletes, and of performance in a demanding discipline. It is a symbol of openness and international influence for our country, which, I remind you, is the World Capital of Sport in 2025,” declared H.S.H. Prince Albert II.
“Today, we are 300 days away from the Grand Départ of La Vuelta 26, and Monaco is ready to write a new page in its brilliant sporting history,” stated H.E. Mr. Christophe Mirmand, Minister of State.
“Monaco is synonymous with sporting excellence and organizational expertise. Launching La Vuelta here is both an honor and a guarantee of success for everyone involved,” added Javier Guillén, General Director of La Vuelta.
The festivities will begin on Thursday, August 20, 2026, with the official team presentation.
The highlight of these four days will be the individual time trial of 9.6 km, on Saturday, August 22, starting from Place du Casino.
The route, entirely drawn within the streets of Monaco, will showcase the Principality’s most iconic landmarks:
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Place du Casino, with the Hôtel de Paris and Café de Paris,
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The Moulins district,
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The Fairmont hairpin,
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The Larvotto district,
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Port Hercule and Port de Fontvieille,
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The Circus tent, which riders will pass through,
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The Louis II Stadium,
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And a finish line on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
The second stage, on Sunday, August 23, will feature a ceremonial start from the Prince’s Palace Square, followed by the official start from the Jardin Exotique, as riders head towards France.
This official presentation also marked a symbolic handover between Italy, which hosted the 2025 La Vuelta start, and Monaco.
🎥 Discover the individual time trial route in video:
👉 https://youtu.be/cx8w56jT71U
