Stage 2 of the 2026 Vuelta a Burgos covers 178 km from Arcos de la Llana to Pineda de la Sierra, finishing atop a hilltop summit that rewards climbers and punchy specialists. The 2.Pro classification and hilly profile make this a key battleground for riders peaking ahead of La Vuelta. Expect selection to happen on the final ascent, with only the best climbers and hill specialists surviving.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Oscar Onley stands out as the clear favourite by combining the joint-highest Hills stat (78) with elite Climbing (79) and a dedicated programme centred on this race. His INEOS Grenadiers team can control the race and set him up perfectly for the summit finish at Pineda de la Sierra.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Oscar Onley tops the Hills stat at 78 alongside the best Climbing score in the field (79), making him ideally suited to this hilly finish at Pineda de la Sierra. His recent form shows a top-10 in similar-profile races and he arrives at Burgos without a major race immediately before or after, suggesting full focus here.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Enric Mas matches Onley on Hills (78) and leads the climbing rankings (79), bringing Grand Tour pedigree to a stage tailor-made for his skills. Ben Tulett offers excellent all-round numbers and has already shown he can reach the podium in similar hilly races, backed by a strong Visma team.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Ben Tulett posts a Hills score of 76 with strong Climbing (76) and TT (73), and his recent form in hilly races yields an average position of 22.0 with two podiums from just five starts. The Visma – Lease a Bike support structure gives him a tactical edge in a race like this.
Movistar
Movistar
Enric Mas shares the top Hills rating of 78 and leads the field in Climbing at 79, making him one of the most technically capable riders for a hill finish. He is using Burgos as Vuelta preparation, meaning he should arrive in sharp form.
★★
Buitenbeentjes
Felix Gall and Carlos Rodríguez both carry Hills scores of 77 and Climbing ratings of 79 and 77 respectively, making them genuine podium threats. Matthew Brennan is the wildcard: four wins in 13 recent hilly-profile races prove his ability to win this type of finish, and his sprint stat (77) is the highest of all ten selected riders.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Carlos Rodríguez holds a Hills score of 76 with the highest Climbing stat (77) among the 76-rated Hills group, and his recent form shows two top-10 finishes across eight similar-profile races. He heads to La Vuelta afterwards and will treat Burgos as a key tune-up.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Felix Gall carries a Hills score of 77 and an elite Climbing rating of 79, placing him among the very best climbers in the startlist. He is Vuelta-bound and will want a strong result here as a confidence booster.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Matthew Brennan's Hills score of 75 is backed by an impressive recent record: four wins and four podiums in 13 hilly-profile races, with a best result of 1st. His outstanding sprint stat (77) could be decisive if a small group reaches the finish together.
★
Om in de Gaten te Houden
Mikel Landa and Pello Bilbao are world-class climbers on paper but both appear focused on other goals in the near future. Giulio Ciccone's upcoming calendar points to Canada rather than Spain, while Jay Vine's modest recent hilly form (avg 30.7) tempers expectations despite his outstanding TT engine — all four remain capable of a top result on a good day.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Giulio Ciccone shares the joint-top Hills rating of 78 but his upcoming calendar lists the Canadian classics rather than Burgos as a priority, raising doubts about whether he will push for the win here. Still a rider capable of a big result on any given hilly day.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jay Vine's Hills score of 76 is paired with an elite TT stat of 80 and a Climbing rating of 77, giving him a versatile profile for a stage race. Recent hilly form is modest (average position 30.7 over three races), but he is Vuelta-bound and will want race sharpness.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Mikel Landa holds a Hills score of 77 with a Climbing stat of 79, but he is listed with the Czech Tour and Vuelta ahead, suggesting Burgos may be a warm-up ride rather than a primary target. His class keeps him relevant but form and motivation are uncertain.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Pello Bilbao's Hills score of 77 is complemented by the best Sprint (71) and TT (73) among the top Hills group, and his well-rounded profile could suit a punchy hill finish. However, his next listed race is the Deutschland Tour, which may indicate divided focus.
Verdict
Oscar Onley is the top favourite, boasting a joint-best Hills stat of 78 and the best Climbing score in the field alongside recent hilly-race pedigree. Enric Mas and Ben Tulett are his most dangerous challengers, with the quality and team support to contest the finish.