Phoenix 24
The Slovenian champion eyes another Grand Tour challenge.
LJUBLJANA
Tadej Pogacar has identified the 2027 Vuelta a España as a major objective as he prepares to return to professional cycling following the serious crash that ended his 2026 season. The Slovenian rider also hopes to contest the Tour de France and the World Championships, although his race schedule has not yet been finalized by UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Speaking to Slovenian broadcaster RTV SLO, Pogacar indicated that completing the Spanish Grand Tour remains an important personal ambition. The Vuelta is the only one of cycling’s three Grand Tours he has yet to win, despite a career that already includes five Tour de France titles and victory at the Giro d’Italia.
His renewed interest follows a painful departure from the 2026 Vuelta. On August 29, during the eighth stage toward Xeraco, Pogacar crashed while wearing the race leader’s red jersey. The accident resulted in a fractured collarbone and a cervical vertebral injury, requiring surgery and ending his competitive season.
The incident interrupted a campaign in which the Slovenian had again demonstrated his dominance across major stage races and one-day classics. More importantly, it prevented him from pursuing an achievement that would complete his collection of Grand Tour victories.
Pogacar has since resumed training, but his team has maintained a cautious approach to recovery. UAE Team Emirates-XRG previously ruled out a return to competition before 2027, despite speculation that he might recover in time for the European Championships held in Slovenia.
His latest comments signal sporting ambition rather than a confirmed commitment to start the Vuelta. The team must still determine how to balance his competitive objectives with recovery, preparation and the demands of a crowded international calendar.
The 2027 season presents an unusual scheduling challenge. The Tour de France is scheduled for July, while the Road World Championships in Haute-Savoie will take place in late August, shortly before the Spanish Grand Tour begins.
For a rider considering all three events, preparation and recovery could become decisive. The Tour demands sustained performance across three weeks, while the World Championships require a different competitive approach. The Vuelta would then present another extended test of endurance.
Pogacar has also expressed interest in returning to the Giro d’Italia, making his final selection of Grand Tours particularly significant. Competing in every preferred event may not be compatible with maintaining peak condition throughout the year.
Another unresolved ambition is Paris-Roubaix, the demanding cobbled Monument that remains absent from his palmares. Its preparation requirements add further complexity to a season already filled with potential priorities.
The Slovenian’s intentions are especially noteworthy because the 2026 accident interrupted what had appeared to be a promising attempt to secure the Vuelta title. His previous participation in 2019 ended with a third-place finish, establishing him as an emerging Grand Tour contender.
Since then, his development has transformed expectations surrounding his performances. He enters major races not merely as a candidate for victory but as a reference point against which rivals must develop their strategies.
Yet returning from injury introduces uncertainty that past achievements cannot eliminate. Physical recovery, confidence and the ability to tolerate the demands of sustained competition will influence how effectively he resumes racing.
For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the challenge will be to support the ambitions of its leading rider without compressing rehabilitation or creating unnecessary competitive pressure.
The Vuelta’s place in Pogacar’s plans also underlines the importance of the Spanish race within international cycling. Beyond completing an individual record, participation by one of the sport’s most prominent figures would bring renewed attention to its sporting narrative.
For now, the distinction remains clear: Pogacar wants to return to the Vuelta in 2027, but his participation has not been formally confirmed.
His recovery and the team’s final calendar decisions will determine whether the ambition becomes reality.
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