Costa del Sol I No. 2149 I 10 - 16 September 2026 I FREE Newspaper Dep. Legal MA-74-2004 - ISSN 2488-1562
Costa del Sol glory SPORTS fans have a date with a major sporting occasion on Friday, September 11, when La Vuelta Ciclista España rolls into the province for a spectacular finish at Peñas Blancas overlooking Estepona. Stage 19 of the world-famous race starts in Velez-Malaga before taking riders on a rapid 210.8-kilometre journey through Malaga Province, with the peloton whizzing through San Pedro de Alcantara before heading at breakneck speed towards Estepona and the final climb into Sierra Bermeja. For local residents, it is far more than a fleeting glimpse of elite cyclists. La Vuelta brings television exposure that can put roads, beaches, mountains and towns in
Credit: Francisco Alfonseca - Shutterstock
WORLD-CLASS CYCLING TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN ESTEPONA
Peloton races through Coin in 2022.
front of audiences far beyond Spain in this prestigious world-famous competition. Few backdrops could make cycling look quite as spectacular. Riders will travel from the Axarquia region through
Malaga and towards the western Costa del Sol, before facing the tough ascent to Peñas Blancas, where the finish comes after almost 19 kilometres of climbing at an average gradient of 6.5 per cent.
Estepona is preparing for its moment with a Fan Zone on Avenida España and 3,000 free Vuelta T-shirts being distributed on Friday. Schools are also finishing early, giving families an opportunity to enjoy the spectacle and avoid the temporary road closures. Previous research found that 93.3 per cent of surveyed residents believed La Vuelta improved their locality’s international image, while more than 90 per cent felt it encouraged more tourism. Andalucia is expecting
millions of euros in additional economic activity from this year’s Vuelta, with the hotel sector estimating between €5.5 million and €8.5 million in additional regional impact. For the Costa del Sol, it offers an unforgettable chance to see worldclass cycling up close while letting TV viewers around the world see what makes this corner of Spain such a spectacular place to visit. Sometimes a few minutes of cycling can leave a long-lasting impression.