Tadej Pogacar positions himself as favorite: “The Vuelta a España is an objective missing from my career”

Tadej Pogacar, a five-time Tour de France champion and one-time Giro d'Italia winner, is poised as the strong favorite for the upcoming Vuelta a España. The race is set to commence Saturday in Monaco, a historic first for the event, before traversing over 3,000 kilometers across 21 stages, concluding on September 13 in Granada.

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The Vuelta a España is an objective that is missing from my career. Winning all three Grand Tours is a big dream of mine for several years. It's a major goal.

"The Vuelta a España is an objective that is missing from my career," Pogacar stated at a press conference Thursday. "Winning all three Grand Tours is a big dream of mine for several years. It's a major goal." This marks his return to the Vuelta since his 2019 debut, where he finished third and secured three stage victories.

In the absence of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, who is injured, Pogacar faces competition from fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglic, a four-time Vuelta winner. Other notable contenders include Belgium's Wout Van Aert, Spain's Enric Mas, Ecuador's Richard Carapaz, Austria's Felix Gall, and Denmark's Mads Pedersen. "He is the best in the world (Pogacar) and has deservedly won everything he has competed in," acknowledged Carapaz, though he affirmed his own clear objective to contend for the general classification.

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He is the best in the world (Pogacar) and has deservedly won everything he has competed in.

The race route is notably mountainous, promising a challenging edition. After initial stages in Monaco and France, the peloton will head south towards Andalusia. The course includes four medium-mountain stages and six high-mountain stages, with a total elevation gain exceeding 58,000 meters. Key climbs include Valdelinares, Calar Alto, La Pandera, and Alto de Aitana. A short gravel section in the sixth stage adds another layer of difficulty. Cyclists will also face two time trials: a 9 km race on the opening day in Monaco and a 32 km test through vineyards in Cádiz on stage 18. The queen stage, featuring over 5,000 meters of positive elevation gain, is scheduled for the penultimate day, leading to the summit finish.

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La Vuelta a España is an objective that is missing from my career.