Stage 1 of the 2026 Vuelta a Burgos covers 165 km from Gumiel de Izán to Burgos with a hilly profile concluding at the Alto del Castillo summit finish. The 2.Pro classification attracts a high-quality field using the race as Vuelta a España preparation, ensuring aggressive racing from the opening day. The uphill finale rewards pure climbers and puncheurs over sprinters.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Oscar Onley stands alone at the top, sharing the field's highest Hills rating (78) but bringing the added backing of INEOS Grenadiers and recent hilly-race form including a top-10 result. With no major distractions on his calendar after Burgos, this stage suits him perfectly.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Oscar Onley tops the Hills stat (78) alongside the field's elite and has shown recent hilly-race form with a top-10 finish in similar profiles. INEOS Grenadiers have the squad depth to support an aggressive race, making Onley the standout pick for Stage 1's hill finish.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Enric Mas and Giulio Ciccone both sit at Hills 78 with Legendary rarity and elite climbing scores (79 and 78 respectively). Mas's home-race motivation and Ciccone's targeted build toward the Canadian Classics make both riders genuine co-favorites who could realistically take the stage win.
Movistar
Movistar
Enric Mas posts Hills 78 and Climbing 79, the highest climbing score in the field, backed by Movistar's Spanish home-race motivation and a Vuelta a España prep context. He is a consistent threat on any uphill finish and one of the race's co-favorites.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Giulio Ciccone matches Onley at Hills 78 and brings Legendary rarity with a strong all-round profile (Climbing 78, TT 71). His Vuelta a Burgos appearance is clearly a targeted build-up to the Canadian Classics, suggesting he'll arrive motivated and sharp.
★★
Buitenbeentjes
Mikel Landa, Felix Gall, and Carlos Rodríguez form a dangerous second tier, all posting Hills 77 or 76 with Climbing scores of 77-79. Recent form is mixed — Landa has been inconsistent, Gall is an unknown quantity returning from a selective calendar, while Rodríguez has shown two top-10s in hilly races this season.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Carlos Rodríguez (Hills 76, Climbing 77) has recent hilly-race form including two top-10s in seven starts, averaging 29.1. He is confirmed for Vuelta a España prep, giving him strong motivation to impress on Alto del Castillo with INEOS backing.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Felix Gall scores Hills 77 and an elite Climbing 79, and heads to Vuelta a España afterwards, making Burgos a key form check. Decathlon CMA CGM have solid support, and Gall's climbing pedigree makes him a genuine dark-horse for the uphill finale.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Mikel Landa brings Hills 77 and Climbing 79 but his recent similar-profile average of 30.7 over three races shows some rustiness returning from injury. He is a clear podium threat if he has regained sharpness, with Soudal Quick-Step targeting Vuelta a España prep.
★
Om in de Gaten te Houden
Ben Tulett, Pello Bilbao, Clément Champoussin, and Jay Vine round out the top 10 as riders with genuine podium upside but greater uncertainty. Tulett and Vine have the team strength to animate the race, while Bilbao's well-rounded profile and Champoussin's attacking style could spring a surprise on the Alto del Castillo.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Ben Tulett (Hills 76, Climbing 76) has a recent hilly-race podium among four starts and is heading to both Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia, signalling a peak mid-season build. Visma's team strength adds tactical options around him.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Clément Champoussin (Hills 77) is a proven puncheur-type who is targeting both Burgos and Vuelta a España. His XDS Astana team will give him freedom to attack on the Alto del Castillo, making him an interesting outsider at this level.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jay Vine (Hills 76, TT 80) is an explosive climber who can surprise on short steep finishes and arrives specifically for Vuelta a Burgos. His UAE Emirates backing and high time-trial baseline suggest he'll be dangerous if the finish doesn't suit pure climbers.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Pello Bilbao scores Hills 77 with the best Sprint (71) and TT (73) of the top climbers, giving him versatility on a hilly day. He is confirmed for Burgos before Deutschland Tour, suggesting a targeted approach and good legs.
Verdict
Oscar Onley is the top favorite, combining an elite Hills rating of 78 with INEOS Grenadiers' tactical firepower and targeted preparation for this race. Enric Mas and Giulio Ciccone are the primary threats, both matching Onley's Hills score with exceptional climbing credentials.