Spain 14 Apr – 18 Apr 2026 Class 2.1 – Stages – Class 1
Website https://ograncamino.gal/
O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route
The 2026 edition of O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route is scheduled from April 14 to April 18, 2026. This UCI Category 2.1 stage race features five stages across the Galician region of Spain. UCI.org
2026 Stage Schedule
The race consists of an opening Individual Time Trial followed by four road stages. UCI.org
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 14 | A Coruña (Torre de Hércules) | 15 km | ITT (Time Trial) |
| 2 | Apr 15 | Vilalba → Barreiros (A Mariña) | 148.6 km | Flat/Transition |
| 3 | Apr 16 | Carballo → Padrón | 169 km | Hilly |
| 4 | Apr 17 | Xinzo de Limia → Alto Cabeza de Meda | 145.7 km | Mountains (Queen Stage) |
| 5 | Apr 18 | As Neves → Monte Trega (A Guarda) | 154.7 km | Hilly (Uphill Finish) |
Key Highlights
- Queen Stage: Stage 4 is the decisive mountain test, featuring nearly 3,000 meters of climbing and a grueling finish at Alto Cabeza de Meda (5.1 km at 9.4%).
- Grand Finale: The race concludes with a spectacular uphill finish at Monte Trega in Pontevedra, offering views over the Atlantic toward Portugal.
- Viewing Information: The event is broadcast internationally on platforms like Eurosport and locally on TVG (Galicia).
There is one Luxembourgish rider confirmed for the 2026 edition of O Gran Camiño:
Mats Wenzel (Luxembourg)
- Team: Equipo Kern Pharma (UCI ProTeam)
- Role: The 23-year-old climber is expected to play a key role for the Spanish squad, particularly on the mountain finishes like Stage 4 (Alto Cabeza de Meda) and the final climb of Stage 5 (Monte Trega).
Mats Wenzel, representing Equipo Kern Pharma, is scheduled to start the Stage 1 Individual Time Trial in A Coruña at 16:18:00 CET.
Stage 1 Details
- Location: A Coruña (Torre de Hércules)
- Distance: 15 km
- Start Time: 16:18:00 CET
- Start Order: He is part of the later wave of riders, starting just ahead of several GC contenders.
Wenzel enters this race in excellent form, having won the Clásica de Pascua just two days ago on April 12. As the sole Luxembourgish representative, he is a rider to watch on the more mountainous terrain later in the week.
The opening stage of the 2026 O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route took place on Tuesday, April 14, in A Coruña. The 15km Individual Time Trial (ITT), starting and finishing at the iconic Torre de Hércules, delivered a breakthrough performance and some significant drama for the GC contenders.
Stage 1 Results: A Coruña ITT (15km)
Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) secured his first professional victory with a dominant ride, finishing 15 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
| # | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Julius Johansen | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | 17:43 | — |
| 2 | Rafael Reis | Sabgal / Anicolor | 17:59 | +15″ |
| 3 | Nelson Oliveira | Movistar Team | 18:00 | +16″ |
| 4 | Jørgen Nordhagen | Visma | Lease a Bike | 18:11 | +28″ |
| 5 | Jakub Otruba | ATT Investments | 18:22 | +39″ |
| 6 | Adam Yates | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | 18:24 | +40″ |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 34 | Mats Wenzel | Equipo Kern Pharma | 19:16 | +1.37″ |
Key Takeaways
- Surprise Winner: Johansen, typically a powerhouse domestique, admitted after the race that even he was surprised by the win, noting his power meter data actually felt lower than expected during the effort.
- GC Battle: Among the overall favorites, young Norwegian talent Jørgen Nordhagen made a strong statement by finishing 4th, gaining 12 seconds on Adam Yates, who limited his losses well in 6th place.
- Mechanical Heartbreak: Iván Romeo (Movistar) was on a flyer, setting the fastest time at the first intermediate checkpoint, but a puncture midway through the course ended his chances for the stage win.
With this result, Julius Johansen will wear the first yellow jersey (Maillot de Líder) heading into Stage 2.
Carlos Canal (Movistar Team) won the second stage of the 2026 O Gran Camiño, a 148.6 km route from Vilalba to Barreiros. He claimed victory in a reduced group sprint ahead of Mats Wenzel and Eric Antonio Fagúndez.
Stage 2 Results: Vilalba > Barreiros (148.6 km)
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Carlos Canal | Movistar Team | 3:13:25 |
| 2 | Mats Wenzel | Equipo Kern Pharma | s.t. |
| 3 | Eric Antonio Fagúndez | Burgos Burpellet BH | s.t. |
| 4 | Patryk Goszczurny | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | s.t. |
| 5 | Anton Schiffer | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | s.t. |
| 6 | Alessandro Pinarello | NSN Cycling Team | s.t. |
| 7 | Sven Aleksander Mernik | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | s.t. |
| 8 | Abel Balderstone | Caja Rural – Seguros RGA | s.t. |
| 9 | Kevin Vermaerke | UAE Team Emirates – XRG | s.t. |
| 10 | Carlos García Pierna | Burgos Burpellet BH | s.t. |
General Classification After Stage 2
Following the stage, Rafael Reis (Anicolor / Campicarn) has taken over the leader’s jersey.
The race continues tomorrow with Stage 3, a hilly 169 km route from Carballo to Padrón.
For Mats Wenzel and Equipo Kern Pharma, the outlook for the remaining stages of the 2026 O Gran Camiño is promising, especially after a solid performance in the opening time trial.
The result of O Gran Camiño stage 3
Iván Romeo (Movistar Team) won the third stage of the 2026 O Gran Camiño, delivering a strong solo performance into Padrón. He attacked from a select lead group in the final 10 kilometers to secure the victory.
Stage 3 Results (Top 3)
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Iván Romeo | Movistar Team | 3h 52′ 33″ |
| 2 | Alessandro Pinarello | NSN Cycling Team | + 0′ 12″ |
| 3 | Abel Balderstone | Caja Rural – Seguros RGA | + 0′ 12″ |
General Classification Update
Following the stage, the overall lead shifted. Jørgen Nordhagen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) moved into the yellow jersey, taking over the lead from Rafael Reis. However, the margins are razor-thin, with Alessandro Pinarello trailing by only a single second in the virtual standings following bonus second calculations.
The race continues with a grueling queen stage featuring nearly 3,000 meters of climbing.
Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma) had another solid day at O Gran Camiño, finishing in the lead group during Stage 3. This follows his impressive performance in Stage 2, where he finished second in a bunch sprint behind Carlos Canal.
Stage 3 Classification (April 16, 2026)
Mats Wenzel finished in 9th place on the stage, arriving in the second group just 12 seconds after the solo winner, Iván Romeo.
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Iván Romeo | Movistar Team | 3h 52′ 33″ |
| … | … | … | … |
| 9 | Mats Wenzel | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 0′ 44″ |
General Classification (GC) After Stage 3
Wenzel currently sits in a strong position in the overall standings, remaining within a minute of the new leader, Jørgen Nordhagen.
| # | Rider | Team | Time Gap |
| 1 | Jørgen Nordhagen | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 7h 41′ 08″ |
| 2 | Alessandro Pinarello | NSN Cycling Team | + 0′ 01″ |
| … | … | … | … |
| 19 | Mats Wenzel | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 1′ 27″ |
The result of O Gran Camiño stage 4
Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) claimed a solo victory on Stage 4 of O Gran Camiño 2026, which took place today, April 17.
The stage featured a mountain finish at Alto Cabeza de Meda, where Yates launched a decisive attack to win the “Queen Stage” and take the overall lead in the general classification.
Stage 4 Top Results
| # | Rider | Team | Time/Gap |
| 1st | Adam Yates | UAE Team Emirates – XRG | 3:37:18 |
| 2nd | Jørgen Nordhagen | Visma-Lease a Bike | +46″ |
| 3rd | Alessandro Pinarello | NSN Cycling Team | +1:04 |
General Classification (After Stage 4)
With his victory, Yates moved into the leader’s jersey (yellow) heading into the final day.
- Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)
- Jørgen Nordhagen (+34″)
- Alessandro Pinarello (+54″)
The race concludes tomorrow, April 18, with a hilly final stage between As Neves and Monte Trega.
Result for Mats Wenzel
Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma) finished 18th in Stage 4 of O Gran Camiño 2026.
He crossed the line +2:34 behind the stage winner, Adam Yates. This performance moves him into 19th place overall in the general classification heading into the final day of racing.
Mats Wenzel: 2026 O Gran Camiño Summary
The Luxembourgish rider has had a strong showing throughout this edition of the race, highlighted by a podium finish earlier in the week:
- Stage 1 (ITT): 34th (+1:37)
- Stage 2: 2nd (Finished in the same time as winner Carlos Canal in a reduced bunch sprint)
- Stage 3: 9th (+44″)
- Stage 4 (Queen Stage): 18th (+2:34)
In the overall standings, Wenzel is currently sitting at +2:46 behind the leader, Adam Yates.
Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) secured the overall victory at the 2026 O Gran Camiño, successfully defending his lead during the final stage today, April 18, 2026.
Final Stage Results (Stage 5)
The final stage, a hilly route from As Neves to Monte Trega, concluded with a punchy summit finish. While Yates attempted to drop his rivals in the final 2 km, a small elite group stayed together for a sprint finish.
- Stage Winner: Alessandro Pinarello (NSN Cycling Team)
- 2nd Place: Jørgen Nordhagen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
- 3rd Place: Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
- 4th Place: Iván Romeo (Movistar Team)
Final General Classification (Top 3)
Yates took control of the race during yesterday’s Queen Stage to Alto Cabeza de Meda and maintained his buffer through the final climb.
| # | Rider | Team | Time/Gap |
| 1 | Adam Yates | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | Winner |
| 2 | Jørgen Nordhagen | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 34s (approx) |
| 3 | Alessandro Pinarello | NSN Cycling Team | + 54s (approx) |
This victory marks Yates’ first GC title of the 2026 season and serves as a strong indicator of his form heading into his primary goal of the year, the Giro d’Italia.
O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route is the official name of a professional men’s road cycling stage race held in Galicia, Spain. Established in 2022, it is a category 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour calendar.
Concept and Identity
The race’s name, “The Great Way,” and its “Historical Route” branding draw inspiration from the Camino deSantiago, the millennium-old pilgrimage route leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
- Revival of Tradition: It was created to return professional cycling to the Galician region, succeeding the former Volta a Galicia, which ceased as a professional event in 2000.
- Pilgrimage Symbolism: The race is designed as a “symbolic pilgrimage,” with routes often crossing all four Galician provinces—A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra—showcasing the region’s natural and cultural heritage. O Gran Camiño
Race History and Winners O Gran Camiño
Despite its young history, the race has attracted high-profile champions early in the cycling season (typically late February). Viajes Camino de Santiago
| Year | Winner | Team | Key Stages/Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | The inaugural winner’s final pro victory |
| 2023 | Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) | Team Jumbo–Visma | Won 3 of 4 stages in a dominant performance |
| 2024 | Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) | Visma–Lease a Bike | Repeated overall victory with 3 stage wins |
| 2025 | Derek Gee (CAN) | Israel–Premier Tech | The first non-European winner |
Recent and Upcoming Editions
- 2025 Edition: For the first time, the race expanded to five stages and left Galicia to include a start in northern Portugal.
- 2026 Edition: Scheduled for April 14–18, 2026, marking a shift from its traditional February slot to later in the spring. The route will include finishes at iconic locations like Monte Trega and the coastal A Mariña
