Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026
The first real form test of the European season — and the data that matters
The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana has quietly become one of the most revealing early-season races on the calendar. Five stages across the Spanish Levante coast and hinterland, with just enough climbing to separate the serious GC riders from those still carrying Christmas weight. It's a form-finder, not a target — and that's precisely what makes the power data from this race so interesting.
Nobody peaks for Valencia. But the riders who show up sharp here tend to carry that form deep into the spring. Last year, the top three on GC all went on to major results by April.
The Route
Five stages, one genuinely hard day. Stages 1 and 2 are for the sprinters — flat runs along the coast that will see the usual chaos in the final three kilometres. Stage 3 introduces some lumpy terrain inland but probably arrives at a reduced bunch sprint.
Stage 4 is the day. A 168 km run that finishes up the Alto de Chera — 8.2 km at 5.8%, with a vicious final kilometre that kicks above 10%. It's not the Alps, but in early February, eight minutes of sustained threshold climbing will tell you everything about who's been working and who's been coasting.
Stage 5, the traditional Valencia circuit finale, rewards the puncheurs. A series of short, steep ramps in the city's outskirts before a technical finish. Think more Alaphilippe than Pogačar.
Stage Profiles
Key Climb: Alto de Chera
The Contenders
The startlist isn't finalised at press time, but here's what we know and what the form data tells us about the likely GC protagonists.
Juan Ayuso
UAE Team EmiratesQuiet AlUla — his climbing numbers were solid but unspectacular. Stage 4 of the Volta has been a good hunting ground for him before. At 22, he's still building towards his peak, and UAE want to see him leading before the classics. His 30-day rolling power has dipped slightly, but February form is a poor predictor of July form. Expect him to race aggressively on the Alto de Chera.
Mikel Landa
Soudal–Quick StepLanda has a habit of peaking early and going well in Valencia — he won here in 2023. Now 36, he's in what might be his final WorldTour season. His power numbers from the off-season Teide camp suggest he's still capable of going deep on a 20-minute climb. Whether he can sustain it across three weeks is another question, but for a five-day race, he's a genuine threat.
Enric Mas
Movistar TeamThe perennial "nearly man" of Spanish cycling enters 2026 with a point to prove and a contract to earn. His late-2025 form at the Vuelta was encouraging — 5.85 ᵉW/kg on the Covadonga. Early-season numbers are down, which is normal for a rider who tends to build slowly. Valencia will show whether the upward trend continues.
Carlos Rodríguez
INEOS GrenadiersINEOS need a breakthrough ride from their Spanish climber in 2026. His W/kg has been consistently elite — upper 5.7s in training data that leaked via Strava flyby last month — but converting that to race results has been the struggle. Valencia is a good litmus test: no pressure, manageable field, one hard day. If he can't win here, questions will be asked.
What to watch
The race itself probably won't tell us who'll win the Tour. But the power numbers from Stage 4 will tell us who's started the season well. We'll publish our full climbing analysis within three hours of the Alto de Chera finish.
Specifically, we'll be tracking:
- Ayuso's solo ceiling. Can he sustain above 5.8 ᵉW/kg when he's the one setting the pace, not sitting on Pogačar's wheel?
- Rodríguez vs. Landa. The INEOS man's numbers suggest he should beat Landa in a straight fight. If he doesn't, that's significant.
- Any surprise performances. Valencia has a habit of elevating unknowns. Last year, a neo-pro from Kern Pharma put out 5.65 ᵉW/kg on the final climb and nobody saw it coming. We're watching the entire top 10, not just the favourites.
Follow the race with us. We'll have daily briefs, and the full power analysis drops the moment the data is in.