ANALYSIS: Wout van Aert already beat Tadej Pogacar once in 2026 - now he can challenge him for the Vuelta spotlight
CyclingSunday, 09 August 2026 at 10:30
Wout van Aert will be one of the biggest names on the start line at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider returns to the final Grand Tour of the season two years after his first appearance, and although his ambitions will be very different to those of Tadej Pogacar, he has every chance of becoming one of the race’s defining figures.
Pogacar will head to Spain as the overwhelming favourite for the general classification, looking to add the Vuelta to his five Tour de France victories and 2024 Giro d'Italia title. Van Aert, meanwhile, is expected to target the green jersey and stage wins.
The Belgian has plenty of reason for confidence. His 2026 season has shown that he is again operating close to the level that made him one of the most feared all-rounders in the peloton.
And there is already a Vuelta precedent.
Van Aert's unfinished business from 2024
Van Aert's first Vuelta appearance in 2024 was developing into one of the performances of the race. He won three stages in the space of two weeks and finished inside the top three on another four occasions, putting himself firmly in control of the points classification and making him a threat on a wide range of terrain.
He was not simply waiting for obvious sprint opportunities either. Van Aert was repeatedly involved at the front of the race, whether through reduced sprints, tougher rolling stages or days when the terrain opened the door to something more aggressive.
That run came to an abrupt end on Stage 16. Van Aert crashed heavily on the descent towards Lagos de Covadonga and was forced to abandon while again involved in the fight for the stage. His Vuelta was over just as he appeared on course to dominate the green jersey battle. Two years later, he returns with unfinished business.
Van Aert had an immensely successful Vuelta a Espana in 2024 before crashing out
Van Aert arrives with major wins behind him
His 2026 campaign has only strengthened the sense that he can again play a major role over three weeks. The biggest moment came in April at Paris-Roubaix, where Van Aert beat Pogacar in the Roubaix velodrome to claim one of the most important victories of his career. It was a result he had chased for years and a major reminder of his ability to win on cycling's biggest stages.
Van Aert also took a stage victory at the Tour Auvergne Rhone-Alpes and was part of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's winning team time trial, although an injury suffered during that race ultimately ruled him out of the Tour de France.
His return to racing could hardly have gone better. At the Tour of Denmark, Van Aert won the opening three stages in succession before sealing the overall classification, giving him an ideal final block of racing before heading to Spain.
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Pogacar and Van Aert meet again
Their objectives at the Vuelta will be very different, but their paths are still likely to cross. Pogacar will be focused on the overall classification and on completing his collection of Grand Tour victories. Van Aert is not expected to enter that battle, with his attention instead on stages and the points jersey. Yet both riders have one obvious thing in common: they can win repeatedly.
Pogacar will naturally be among the favourites whenever the race heads into the mountains or towards an explosive uphill finish. His ability to win on almost every type of climbing terrain gives him numerous opportunities across the three weeks. Van Aert's range is different, but fast finishes, hilly stages, difficult finales and breakaway opportunities can all suit him. He does not need a flat sprint to win and can survive races that remove many of the more traditional fast men.
That versatility is exactly what made him so dangerous at the 2024 Vuelta. The route may offer Pogacar more obvious opportunities for stage wins, particularly in the mountains, but Van Aert has the ability to appear on days when the race looks much less predictable. If he reaches the same level he showed two years ago, the green jersey battle could quickly become one of the major storylines of the race.
Visma's leading stage hunter
Van Aert's role also carries extra importance for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Without Jonas Vingegaard fighting for the general classification, the Belgian becomes the team's clearest reference point for stage victories, which should give him considerable freedom.
The points classification is an obvious target, but it is unlikely to be the only one. Any stage that sits somewhere between a pure sprint and a mountain day could become a Van Aert opportunity.
Pogacar's pursuit of the Vuelta title will inevitably dominate the build-up to the race, particularly with the chance to complete his set of Grand Tour victories. But he may not have the spotlight entirely to himself.
Van Aert arrives after winning Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Denmark, having also taken a stage at the Tour Auvergne Rhone-Alpes before injury kept him out of the Tour de France. One will chase red, while the other will chase stages and green. If Van Aert can reproduce the form he showed at the 2024 Vuelta, Pogacar may not be the only rider repeatedly taking centre stage in Spain.
Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
| Rider | Team | Main objective | Biggest motivation |
| Tadej Pogacar | UAE Team Emirates – XRG | Stages and general classification | Complete his collection of Grand Tour victories |
| Wout van Aert | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | Stages and points classification | Repeat his outstanding 2024 Vuelta |
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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