Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España passes through Málaga on Friday. Traffic restrictions will begin as early as 11:30 a.m., affecting almost the entire EMT bus network. At the same time, crucial seconds are at stake in the sporting battle for the red jersey.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Today, Málaga is all about the Vuelta a España. On Friday, September 11, the 19th stage runs from Vélez-Málaga across the province of Málaga to a summit finish at Peñas Blancas near Estepona. For motorists, this means significant disruptions: the first road closures begin as early as 11:30 a.m. The peloton is expected to arrive in Málaga around 12:40 p.m.
The stage covers 210.8 kilometers and is classified by the Vuelta as “undulating with a summit finish.” The neutralized start in Vélez-Málaga is scheduled for 11:50 a.m., with the official race start at 12:06 p.m. The finish at Peñas Blancas is expected around 5:14 p.m., depending on the race pace.
These streets in Málaga are affected
The race enters the capital from the east and then cuts across central areas of the city. The official route initially follows the Carretera de Almería and Avenida Juan Sebastián Elcano, before the riders continue into the city center via Avenida Pintor Joaquín Sorolla and Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
From there, the route continues via Cánovas del Castillo, Plaza General Torrijos, and Paseo del Parque to Alameda Principal. It then proceeds along Avenida de Andalucía and Avenida Blas Infante before the race joins the A-357 towards Estación de Cártama.
The City of Málaga points out that not only the race route itself but also adjacent and intersecting streets will be affected by road closures. The Vuelta is expected to reach the Carretera de Almería around 12:40 p.m. It is estimated that the entire race procession will take about 30 minutes to pass through. Traffic is then scheduled to be reopened gradually.
Anyone wanting to watch the Vuelta needs to get there early
Before the professional cyclists ride through Málaga, the Vuelta’s publicity caravan arrives. It is scheduled to reach the Paseo del Parque about an hour and 15 minutes ahead of the first rider. Anyone wishing to watch the spectacle along the route should therefore arrive well before the peloton.
For drivers, this means that anyone needing to pass through the affected areas around midday should either start their journey earlier or take an alternative route. City Hall strongly recommends using the bypass and ring roads and avoiding the race route as much as possible.
Almost the entire EMT network is being changed
It is not just road traffic that is affected; local public transport must also adjust to the Vuelta. According to City Hall, all EMT lines—with the exception of lines 15, 18, 22, 27, and 28—will be affected by the closures. Changes to routes, stops, and schedules are possible.
Lines 3, 8, 29, 32, 33, 34, and 35, among others, are particularly affected. Temporary termini have been designated for several lines. Areas serving as alternative routes for buses include Avenida Aurora, Pasillo Matadero, Calle M. Heredia, Paseo de los Tilos, and the Cuarteles-Héroes de Sostoa corridor.
Passengers should therefore check the EMT app before their journey, as the situation may change throughout the day depending on the actual closures.
From the Costa del Sol to the mountains
In sporting terms, Stage 19 promises one of the more challenging finales of this Vuelta. After starting in Vélez-Málaga, the race initially heads along the coast towards Málaga. After passing through the provincial capital, the route continues via Cártama and Coín towards the Sierra de las Nieves and Ronda. The riders then head back towards the Costa del Sol before the final climb to Peñas Blancas begins.
Two Category 2 climbs await along the route: the Puerto de las Abejas and the Puerto del Viento. The Puerto de las Abejas is 14.5 kilometers long with an average gradient of 4.3 percent. The subsequent Puerto del Viento spans 13.1 kilometers with an average gradient of 3.7 percent.
However, the grand finale doesn’t come until the very end: the climb to Peñas Blancas is likely to prove decisive for the general classification.
18.7 kilometers uphill to Peñas Blancas
The final climb to Peñas Blancas begins after 182.1 kilometers. The ascent is 18.7 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 6.5 percent. The finish line is located at an altitude of approximately 1,268 meters. The Vuelta classifies the climb as a Category 1 ascent.
This means a long and demanding final climb awaits the riders after more than 190 kilometers. This section could prove decisive, especially for the general classification contenders.
Enric Mas defends the red jersey
The sporting context adds further interest to the stage. Following Thursday’s individual time trial from El Puerto de Santa María to Jerez de la Frontera, Enric Mas heads into Stage 19 as the overall leader. His main challenger is the Slovenian Primož Roglič.
For Mas, the decisive phase of the Vuelta begins here. Following the Málaga stage, two days of racing still remain on the schedule—including another tough mountain stage on Saturday. Stage 19 could therefore provide important clues as to who will actually be contending for the overall victory in Granada on Sunday.
Peñas Blancas is not unfamiliar territory
The summit finish near Estepona has already made Vuelta history. Peñas Blancas previously hosted a stage finish in 2013 and 2022. In 2022, the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz won the summit finish. The Vuelta is thus returning to the climb four years after the last finish there.
The return of the Vuelta is a special event for the province of Málaga, too. This Friday, the race connects the eastern coast, the provincial capital, the hinterland, and the western Costa del Sol in a single stage.
For Málaga, the rule today is: plan early
For the city’s residents, however, the primary concern is their own mobility rather than the overall race standings. Traffic closures begin at 11:30 a.m. The peloton is expected to enter the city via the Carretera de Almería around 12:40 p.m. and then continue along the Paseo Marítimo, Paseo del Parque, Alameda Principal, and Avenida de Andalucía towards the A-357.
Anyone driving today should avoid the affected areas as much as possible and use the ring roads. Bus passengers should check the latest updates from EMT. After all, while the pros battle for seconds and the red jersey, for many people in Málaga, the Vuelta could mean one thing above all: a significantly longer journey through the city.
