Stage 20 of the 2026 Vuelta a España is a 186.8 km mountain stage departing from La Calahorra and finishing atop Collado del Alguacil, a classic Spanish sierra summit finish. With the race penultimate mountain stage on the cards, GC ambitions and stage-hunting breakaway moves will be in full play. The demanding profile rewards pure climbers and those who have shown the ability to accelerate on high-altitude finales throughout the race.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Richard Carapaz stands alone at the top of the selections. His wins at stage 18 and stage 20 of the Tour de France on similar mountain terrain are the most compelling evidence in the field, and no other rider matches his combination of raw climbing ability, recent winning form, and experience on summit finishes of this nature.
EF - EasyPost
EF - EasyPost
Richard Carapaz is the standout favorite for this mountain finish, having won stage 18 and stage 20 of the Tour de France in similar-profile races recently, adding up to four top-3s and nine top-10s in comparable terrain over the past 90 days. One of the best pure climbers in this field, his form on summit finishes this summer has been exceptional and he arrives as the clear top pick for Collado del Alguacil.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Felix Gall and Tobias Halland Johannessen are the two riders most likely to challenge Carapaz. Gall's win at the Vuelta a Burgos and further podiums in comparable races make him a genuine threat, while Johannessen's remarkable run of near-misses across multiple mountain finishes suggests a breakout top result is due. Both are elite climbers who suit the profile of Collado del Alguacil.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Felix Gall has shown excellent climbing form over the past 90 days, including a win at stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos and three further top-3s in similar mountain finishes. His profile suits this demanding mountain stage perfectly, making him one of the two strongest threats to Carapaz.
Tobias
Halland Johannessen
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Tobias Halland Johannessen has been remarkably consistent in similar-profile races recently, racking up four top-3s and seven top-5s without a win — a record that speaks to elite-level climbing form across a long stretch of racing. A strong all-around climbing stat and good recent rhythm make him a reliable contender for the podium here.
★★
Dark Horses
Enric Mas, Oscar Onley, and Santiago Buitrago occupy the dark horse tier. Mas has already won a stage in this Vuelta a España edition and has shown the class to compete at the very top on mountain days. Onley and Buitrago have both posted multiple podiums in similar-profile races recently without winning, suggesting they are at a high level and could break through on this demanding finish.
Movistar
Movistar
Enric Mas took a stage win at stage 9 of this Vuelta a España and has already shown he can compete on the hardest finishes in this race, with two top-3s and four top-10s in race-edition results. He also claimed one of his wins in a similar-profile race recently, confirming his current sharpness on mountain terrain.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Oscar Onley has quietly built a strong portfolio in similar-profile races, posting two top-3s and four top-5s over the past 90 days without yet taking a win. Among the best climbers in the field, Onley has the engine for a summit finish of this difficulty and could spring a surprise.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Santiago Buitrago has posted two top-3s and two top-5s in similar mountain-finish races recently, demonstrating consistent punching power on long climbs. His climbing ability is among the best in this field and he is well placed to challenge if the race fragments on the final ascent.
★
Ones to Watch
Primož Roglic carries the pedigree of a three-time Vuelta champion but his recent similar-profile results fall short of the top contenders. Mattias Skjelmose has been a steady top-10 presence throughout the race and in comparable mountain stages but has not converted his consistency into a podium. Jakob Omrzel is a genuine wildcard as a stage winner in this Vuelta, while Sepp Kuss's recent mountain form and podium in this edition make him a credible, if secondary, threat.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Jakob Omrzel took a dramatic win at stage 12 of this Vuelta a España and has shown he can go deep in mountain stages, also claiming a top-3 in similar-profile races recently. A stage winner on this very race is always a threat, though his consistency across the full race has been limited to just one or two high-level efforts.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Mattias Skjelmose has accumulated nine top-10s in similar-profile races recently without managing a podium, suggesting he is competitive but not yet breaking through at this level in mountain finishes. His race-edition performance shows three top-10s in this Vuelta, which is a decent signal of fitness even if the victories have not materialized.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Primož Roglic is a three-time Vuelta champion and one of the most decorated climbers in the peloton, but his recent similar-profile races show only one top-3 and three top-10s — below the level of the top contenders here. Still dangerous on a summit finish, but current form suggests a supporting rather than leading role.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Sepp Kuss has shown two top-3s and four top-5s in similar-profile races recently, and a top-3 in this Vuelta a España edition demonstrates he still has form on summit finishes. Historically a strong performer at this race, he merits inclusion as a potential surprise package if he has been saving himself for this penultimate mountain test.
Verdict
Richard Carapaz enters as the clear top favorite, backed by a pair of Tour de France mountain stage wins and dominant recent form on similar finishes; Felix Gall and Tobias Halland Johannessen are his most dangerous challengers heading to Collado del Alguacil.