The Vuelta de España is set to return to the Canary Islands in 2026, almost four decades after the cycling race last visited the archipelago in 1988.
Organisers are in advanced talks to bring the race back to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with each island expected to host two stages each.
The routes are likely to feature gruelling climbs to Mount Teide and Pico de las Nieves, the highest peaks on the islands, which will offer a major challenge to the competitors.
The last time the Vuelta included the Canary Islands was in 1988, when it featured two stages in Tenerife, and a team time trial in Gran Canaria.
The Vuelta is one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. A return to the Canaries would not only revive a piece of cycling history but also give the islands an international platform and economic boost through tourism and media exposure.
