Stage 6 of the 2026 Vuelta started here
On Thursday 27 August 2026, Alcossebre hosted a Vuelta a España stage start for the first time. Stage 6 took the peloton to Castelló: 177.5 km of medium mountains with around 3,000 m of climbing and four categorised passes. Neutralised start at 13:11, expected finish at 17:18.
The route left town for the interior and came back to the sea further south: Alcalà de Xivert (due through between 13:19 and 13:20), Les Coves de Vinromà, Torre d'en Doménec, La Serratella, Albocàsser, Serra d'en Galceran, Benlloc, Vall d'Alba, Cabanes, Orpesa, Benicàssim, Desert de les Palmes and El Bartolo, with the intermediate sprint at kilometre 120.1, near Benicàssim.
The next day the race stayed in the province: stage 7 left Vall d'Alba for Aramón Valdelinares, in Teruel, 149.8 km.
The four climbs, one by one
These are the official route figures. They do not change with the race: they are the same if you ride them in March.
| Climb | Cat. | Length | Average gradient | Summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Serratella | 2 | 14 km | 3.8 % | 799 m |
| Coll de la Bandereta | 3 | 4.6 km | 6.7 % | 785 m |
| Desert de les Palmes | 2 | 7.6 km | 4.9 % | 418 m |
| El Bartolo | 1 | 9.4 km | 7 % | 713 m |
Read together they tell a story: La Serratella is the longest and the gentlest, fourteen kilometres you can do seated. La Bandereta is the opposite — short, with real gradient. Desert de les Palmes is the province's classic, the one you climb from Benicàssim. And El Bartolo is the one that decides things.
El Bartolo: 3.5 km of dirt, and a debut
The Vuelta had never gone over El Bartolo. It is 9.4 km at 7 % up to 713 m, with the summit around 16 km from the finish in Castelló, inside the Desert de les Palmes natural park, between Benicàssim, La Pobla Tornesa and Cabanes.
What makes its name is about 3.5 km of dirt road: a sustained stretch near 12 % with pitches touching 19 %, then an easier section before the final wall. After that, a technical descent into the city.
An honest warning: this is a dirt track, not tarmac. After recent rain the surface changes a great deal, and a road bike on narrow tyres is not the right tool. On gravel or wider tyres it is another matter.
Riding the stage from Alcossebre
177 km point to point is not a morning ride. Three sensible ways to use the route if you are sleeping here:
- The first half, out and back. Alcossebre, Alcalà de Xivert, Les Coves de Vinromà and La Serratella, then home the way you came. You get the long, steady climb without depending on anyone.
- Just the finale. Get across to Benicàssim and do Desert de les Palmes and El Bartolo, which is the hard part and the best-looking.
- The whole stage, with the train back. There is no station in Alcossebre; the nearest is Alcalà de Xivert, about 8 km away, with a town bus timed to the trains. Check the bike conditions on renfe.com before you count on it. All the transport detail is in the guide to getting here.
What was already here for cycling
The Vuelta brought the spotlight, but it did not start anything. Alcossebre already had two mountain-bike circuits through the Sierra de Irta, the Alcossebre – Alcalà de Xivert MTB ride in spring and TriAlcossebre, the local triathlon, with its 25 km bike leg. All of it, with its warnings and distances, is in the sport and active tourism guide.
For getting around town off the open road, the mobility guide covers the promenade and the Sierra de Irta by bike.
Frequently asked questions
- When did the Vuelta a España start from Alcossebre?
- On Thursday 27 August 2026, on stage 6, with a neutralised start at 13:11 and the finish in Castelló. It was the first time Alcossebre hosted a stage start.
- Which climbs were in the Alcossebre stage?
- Four: La Serratella (cat. 2, 14 km at 3.8 %), Coll de la Bandereta (cat. 3, 4.6 km at 6.7 %), Desert de les Palmes (cat. 2, 7.6 km at 4.9 %) and El Bartolo (cat. 1, 9.4 km at 7 %).
- What is special about El Bartolo?
- It had never featured in the Vuelta, and it has about 3.5 km of dirt road, with a stretch near 12 % and pitches reaching 19 %. The summit is at 713 m, some 16 km from the finish in Castelló.
- Can you climb El Bartolo on a road bike?
- The dirt section makes it uncomfortable on narrow tyres; on gravel or wider tyres it is reasonable. After recent rain the surface changes a lot, so check the weather first.
- Exactly how long was the stage?
- The official route gives 177.5 km. You will see figures between 176 and 177.5 km depending on the source; the difference is in how the neutralised start is counted.
- Are there mountain-bike routes in Alcossebre?
- Yes, two circuits through the Sierra de Irta, on tracks and paths. They are detailed in the sport and active tourism guide.
- Is there a train station in Alcossebre?
- No. The nearest is Alcalà de Xivert, about 8 km away, connected by a town bus timed to the trains and by taxi.
Stage data taken from the official La Vuelta route and the Diputació de Castelló release (August 2026). The climbs and their gradients do not change; the surface of El Bartolo's dirt section does.
Content reviewed in August 2026.