Tadej Pogacar confirms participation in Vuelta a España for a potential triple
Tadej Pogacar, winner of the Tour de France, has announced his participation in the Vuelta a España, scheduled to take place in Monaco on August 22. The rider, who has already won the Tour five times, aims to achieve a rare feat, similar to his long-time rival, Jonas Vingegaard, who triumphed in all three Grand Tours after his success at the Giro d’Italia in May.
Pogacar’s Excitement for the Event
“I am very happy to say that I am returning to La Vuelta,” Pogacar stated. “It was my first participation in a Grand Tour in 2019, and I have incredible memories of it. I love Spain, both for the visit and for the competition, and I think it’s the perfect time to come back.”
“The motivation is strong to finish the year well, and the Vuelta will be a major objective. The team is solid, and we hope to achieve great things.”
Vuelta a España Overview
The Slovenian made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta in 2019, where he was a revelation, finishing third, just behind his compatriot and winner, Primoz Roglic. He also won three stages and the best young rider classification.
This edition of the Vuelta will feature eight mountain stages and over 40 kilometers of individual time trials. Following the opening time trial in Monaco, the race will head towards Andorra and along the Mediterranean coast, passing through Cordoba, Malaga, and Seville, concluding in Granada on September 13.
Pogacar hinted during his successful defense of the Tour de France that he was likely to participate in the Spanish race, especially after Prince Albert of Monaco expressed his desire to see Pogacar compete.
“If the prince says it, then the probability is high,” Pogacar affirmed.
However, his fatigue after the Tour suggested that the decision was not yet final. “Right now, I don’t feel fresh enough to race the Vuelta if it started tomorrow,” he stated after his victory in Paris. “But in two weeks, I might still decide.”
Although the issue of exhaustion has been recently discussed in the peloton, with Vingegaard expected to take the rest of the year off following a collarbone fracture during the Tour, Pogacar has a busy schedule for the remainder of the year. He will notably participate in the World Road Championships in Montreal on September 27, just after the conclusion of the Vuelta.
