Pogacar to ride Vuelta a Espana for Grand Tour treble
Tadej Pogačar, fresh from winning a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, has confirmed he will race the Vuelta a España this month in pursuit of a rare Grand Tour treble. The Slovenian, riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, would become only the ninth cyclist in history to win all three Grand Tours if he triumphs in Spain, cementing his status as one of the sport's greatest ever riders.
The Vuelta begins in Monaco on 22 August and finishes in Granada on 13 September, comprising 21 stages of time trials, sprints and mountain climbs. Pogačar, 27, previously finished third at the race in 2019 and already holds the 2024 Giro d'Italia title alongside his five Tour wins, plus victories at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Il Lombardia, the Tour of Flanders and the World Championships. Having beaten Remco Evenepoel by over six minutes at this year's Tour, he is expected to be the overwhelming favourite in Spain before also defending his World Championships title in Montreal a week after the Vuelta concludes.
- Pogačar to race the Vuelta a España, chasing a Grand Tour treble
- Would be only the ninth rider ever to achieve the feat
- Vuelta runs 22 August to 13 September, starting in Monaco
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Grand Tours are cycling’s three-week races: the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Winning all three at least once is a rare career achievement, often called a Grand Tour treble.
Tadej Pogačar is a Slovenian rider for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. He has won the Giro and the Tour, and finished third in the Vuelta in 2019; success in Spain would complete his set. The Vuelta’s long mountain stages and time trials test riders’ climbing, speed and endurance, making it a major measure of a cyclist’s ability.