Phoenix 24
The Slovenian enters as the overwhelming favorite to win the only Grand Tour missing from his record, but eight leading contenders will try to disrupt his dominance.
MONACO.— Tadej Pogačar will begin the Vuelta a España with an opportunity to complete cycling’s Grand Tour collection. The Slovenian has already conquered the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, but victory in Spain has so far eluded him. His only previous appearance came in 2019, when he finished third and claimed three stage wins.
The 2026 edition will begin on August 22 with a 9.4-kilometer time trial in Monaco and conclude on September 13 in Granada. The absence of Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel appears to clear part of Pogačar’s path, as he seeks to become only the ninth rider to win all three Grand Tours. Nevertheless, the mountainous route and the physical cost of an exhausting season could prevent the race from becoming a formality.
Four-time Vuelta champion Primož Roglič leads the opposition, although his preparation has been disrupted by physical setbacks. Felix Gall, winner of the Vuelta a Burgos, and Oscar Onley emerge as serious threats in the high mountains, while Richard Carapaz retains the experience required to transform any opportunity into a challenge for the red jersey. Mattias Skjelmose and Enric Mas will also attempt to remain within striking distance before the decisive stages.
João Almeida will be essential to controlling the race inside Pogačar’s own team, but his quality makes him a potential alternative if circumstances change. Cian Uijtdebroeks completes the group of riders expected to animate the general classification and recover prominence on Spain’s steepest roads. Pogačar may be the man everyone must defeat, but the Vuelta still has the power to punish even cycling’s strongest favorite.
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