Guillaume Martin excited for 'less controlled' Vuelta after Pogacar withdrawal - "It has been a long time since we had a Grand Tour that suited breakaways"
CyclingFriday, 04 September 2026 at 10:30
The Vuelta a España began as a Tadej Pogacar fest, but ever since the World Champion's withdrawal, the race has become much more open for the breakaways and climbers. Guillaume Martin believes this to be the case and hopes to grab the opportunity.
An open race without Tadej Pogacar
The former red jersey withdrew from the race on stage 8, having won three stages previously and fully dominated the overall classification. Ordinarily, riders would look at and even ask Pogacar himself if UAE would allow a breakaway to win before deciding to commit to a move.
“Without Pogacar, it is less controlled. I think it is more interesting for the spectacle as well," Guillaume Martin said in an interview with Marca. The GC battle has become very tactical, with several riders fighting for the overall win and podium.
When it comes to breakaway hunters, they will also be getting more opportunities it appears. This Friday on stage 12, it was Jakob Omrzel who took the victory from the front, but more days are to be xepcted. “It has been a long time since we had a Grand Tour that suited breakaways".
“We have seen surprise winners in recent days and I think it will be the same in the days to come," Martin hints at.
Guillaume Martin hopes to win at La Vuelta
Martin hopes to snatch a win at La Vuelta
Martin of course wishes to be one of them. He already played a key role in Bastien Tronchon's victory on stage 10, leading his teammate out in the uphill sprint that saw the team's race turned on its head.
Now in the more mountainous days, he looks to be the one performing. “My form is good, much better than at the Tour. It has been a long time since I felt this good.”
Groupama have every reason to chase breakaways, with Martin and Clément Berthet currently sitting 16th and 11th in the overall classification. “We are still fighting for the general classification with Clément, and maybe I can finish in the top 10. It is not over for us.”
But the priority for Martin, who is not 16 minutes off the Top10, should be the stage win. He believes that he is capable of pulling it off. “I think so. My legs are fresh. I am going to try, for sure.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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