The Slovenian champion faces decisions that could reshape cycling history.
BENIDORM, SPAIN
Tadej Pogačar will outline his main objectives for the 2027 cycling season on December 18, when UAE Team Emirates-XRG holds its annual media event during a preseason training camp in Benidorm, Spain. The announcement is expected to clarify whether the Slovenian superstar will pursue a historic sixth Tour de France victory alongside a return to the Vuelta a España.
The team confirmed its decision to return to the Mediterranean resort, which has become a regular base for winter preparations. The surrounding roads of Alicante provide training conditions that have attracted the squad for several consecutive seasons.
The upcoming presentation carries particular significance following Pogačar’s premature withdrawal from the 2026 Vuelta a España.
The five-time Tour de France champion was leading the Spanish Grand Tour by almost four minutes when a crash during the eighth stage forced him to abandon the race, abruptly ending his competitive season.
That setback left one important objective unfinished.
Although Pogačar has already won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta remains the only Grand Tour absent from his extraordinary collection of victories.
A successful return in 2027 would allow him to complete the set of cycling’s three most prestigious stage races.
Speaking in October, Pogačar identified the Tour de France, the World Championships and the Vuelta as his preferred major objectives for the coming season. However, he acknowledged that the final program would require further discussions with team management.
His ambitions extend beyond completing the Grand Tour collection.
A sixth Tour de France victory would establish a new record for the most official wins in the competition, surpassing the five titles shared by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
The Slovenian is also seeking another road world championship title, adding complexity to a calendar that must balance physical preparation, recovery and performance across several demanding competitions.
Participation in cycling’s spring classics presents another strategic consideration. Pogačar has demonstrated exceptional versatility in one-day races, but his precise selection of events for 2027 has not been confirmed.
For UAE Team Emirates-XRG, determining his schedule is part of a wider planning process involving the distribution of leadership responsibilities among its leading riders.
The team’s depth provides opportunities to pursue different races simultaneously, although individual objectives must be coordinated with the demands of the collective calendar.
Benidorm will therefore serve as more than a winter training destination. It will become the setting for decisions that could influence the competitive direction of the entire season.
Despite the expectations surrounding December’s announcement, Pogačar’s participation in specific events beyond his stated ambitions should not be treated as definitive until the team confirms the program.
His achievements have already established him among cycling’s most accomplished competitors. The unresolved question is how he intends to organize another season around increasingly significant historical objectives.
On December 18, the cycling world should gain a clearer understanding of which records, unfinished ambitions and competitive challenges will define his next campaign.
Beyond the Finish Line, Greatness Demands Vision.