"He can become a rival" - Wout van Aert does not rule out facing Tadej Pogacar at the Vuelta a España's explosive stages
CyclingFriday, 21 August 2026 at 10:27
Wout van Aert arrives at the Vuelta a España 2026 in good shape and eager to make his mark from day one. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider admits the past few weeks have been key to regaining confidence on the time trial bike, especially after the elbow injury that affected his build-up.
“In the last two or three weeks I’ve had no elbow issues from the injury when I’m on the time trial bike,” Van Aert said before the start in comments to Het Laatste Nieuws. The Belgian tackles a different Vuelta to recent years after a summer without the Tour de France. “It’s been a long summer, a bit different than usual, without the Tour. It’s nice to be back at the Vuelta.”
The time trial, first big opportunity
Van Aert’s first target is clear: Saturday’s opening time trial. The route in Monaco suits him on paper, though he warns it is technically demanding.
“The goal is to be as successful as possible at this Vuelta. That starts, of course, with Saturday’s time trial. In recent weeks I’ve gone back to working a bit more on it,” he noted.
Van Aert has already reconned the course and found sections he considers especially testing. “The time trial should fit my characteristics. Yesterday morning I did the recon and even tried to ride it through traffic. It might be a course that’s a bit too technical.”
The decisive section will come in the final kilometers, where the Belgian hopes to exploit one of the time trial bike’s key advantages: the ability to take risks and hold high speed. “In the finale you have to go above the limit, which you can do on a time trial bike. We’ll see how it goes, but in any case, the setting here in Monaco is fantastic.”
The red jersey, a dream
The time trial could also open the door to one of Van Aert’s major personal goals: pulling on the Vuelta’s red leader’s jersey again.
The Belgian knows he will have little margin to keep it. “We’ll hit the mountains quite quickly, so I won’t have much time to try to take the red jersey. But with the time trial and stage two I’ll have good opportunities.”
He does not hide how special it would be to wear the leader’s symbol again. “It would be a dream to wear the jersey again.”
A team geared to stage wins
Beyond the general classification, Van Aert arrives with a philosophy that has worked for him before. He recalls that at last year’s Giro the team was not specifically focused on the GC, but on hunting stage wins, a strategy he particularly enjoyed.
“It may sound strange, but at last year’s Giro we also weren’t really focused on the general classification. Then we were more focused on getting wins for me and for Olav. I liked that way of racing.”
His most recent Vuelta experience also fuels his confidence. “The last time we were at the Vuelta we were successful as well, when we went for stage wins. It gives confidence knowing the whole team is behind me if needed.”
Brennan and Van Aert, two cards for Visma
How Visma shares opportunities could be one of the race’s interesting threads. Van Aert does not rule out sharing leadership with Matthew Brennan, depending on each stage profile.
“It’s possible Brennan gets his chance on the easier stages and I do on the harder ones. The race will decide how it all unfolds, but I’m convinced we’ll both get opportunities.”
For the Belgian, the collective goal comes before any individual ambition. “As long as someone from Visma | Lease a Bike wins, that’s fine.”
Pogacar can reshape the script
Tadej Pogacar’s presence could also alter how some stages are raced. Van Aert believes the champion can turn days that might normally favour others into full-blown battles for victory.
“Pogacar’s presence changes a lot in races. He can become a rival on those ‘intermediate stages’ that also suit me.”
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- Would have been nice to say what dat the race startscaptmike21-08-2026
- Clearly his heart just wasn't in it anymore. He gave us some pretty entertaining and exciting moments, though, and he rode with panache. I wish him all of the best for the future.
santiagobenites21-08-2026 - No, Pogi won't retire early. I can't imagine how frieders3 and maumaue-mause are feeling. Being Pogi haters and still having to watch him for the next 5 to 6 years must be discomforting. The poor guys.PogiSloFans21-08-2026
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