"He has unfinished business with La Vuelta" - Tadej Pogacar already Guillén's big target for Vuelta moving forward
CyclingWednesday, 16 September 2026 at 10:50
The Vuelta a España 2026 has already entered the race’s history, and Javier Guillén has weighed up an edition that had a bit of everything. The race director reviews in AS the three weeks of competition, marked by Tadej Pogacar’s withdrawal when he seemed to have the general classification under control and by the ensuing battle between Enric Mas, Primoz Roglic, and Felix Gall.
The race ended with an outcome the organisers especially cherished. Enric Mas conquered La Vuelta and ended a 12-year wait since the last Spanish victory. The Movistar Team rider then had to defend the red jersey all the way to a penultimate stage at Collado del Alguacil that kept the general classification completely alive.
For Javier Guillén, the final result allows a positive assessment of an edition in which circumstances shifted almost from the start. The Vuelta director highlights both the weather episodes and the GC fight, as well as the show delivered in the closing days.
“An entirely positive balance. We had everything: from hail in Font Romeu to losing Tadej Pogacar, which was a real blow, especially given the spectacle he was offering. We had the best possible compensation as Enric Mas entered the GC fight and defended the lead in style against Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall.”
“On top of that, he did it by taking the race on, with a penultimate stage at Collado del Alguacil where everything was still open and anything could have happened. The route lent itself to that, and it was one of the best days at La Vuelta in recent years. And the finish in Granada was the icing on the cake to end up immensely satisfied.”
The podium of the 2026 Vuelta a España
Expectations exceeded
Pogacar’s withdrawal was one of the biggest blows for the organisers. The Slovenian started as the outright favourite and took three stage wins before being forced out. His presence had generated huge anticipation, so his exit deprived the race of one of its main protagonists.
However, the fight for the red jersey ultimately delivered the kind of finale any organiser would have wished for before the start.
Guillén believes La Vuelta met one of its major sporting goals: to reach the penultimate day with the general classification still open and with two riders of different nationalities fighting for the win.
“Well… beyond the blow of Pogacar’s withdrawal, before La Vuelta starts what every organiser wants is for the sporting decision to come on the penultimate stage, for it to be a Spanish rider against a foreigner and, from that point of view, expectations were more than met. It’s also true that if you had told me this outcome before La Vuelta, I wouldn’t have believed it. So I’d say yes, we exceeded expectations.”
The battle between Mas, Roglic, and Gall kept uncertainty alive almost to the end. The route prevented gaps from being locked in before one of the decisive days, something Guillén considers particularly positive.
The wish to see Pogacar back
One of the big questions from the 2026 edition is whether Tadej Pogacar will return to race La Vuelta. The Slovenian came back seven years after his debut, from 2029 to this 2026 edition, and despite withdrawing, he delivered a dominant performance while he was in the race.
Guillén believes the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider may still have unfinished business with the Spanish Grand Tour, especially because La Vuelta remains the only one of the three Grand Tours he has yet to win.
“I think he has unfinished business with La Vuelta, but above all La Vuelta wants him to come so we can acknowledge the great rider he is and, in particular, so he can remove that thorn by trying again to win. He was well on track when he had to retire, and it’s the only Grand Tour he has left to win.”
The race director also highlights the reception Pogacar received from fans during his participation. For the organisers, that bond with the public could become another reason for the Slovenian to decide to return in the future.
“He saw the response the public had to his presence and also realised he can enjoy himself racing the kind of stages we design. And lastly, what he witnessed on the organisational side, beyond the crash, will encourage him to think he can and should come back.”
So, while the 2026 Vuelta is marked by Enric Mas’ triumph and by a Spaniard’s return to the top of the general classification, the organisers are already looking ahead. And among their wishes for the coming editions, one stands out: to welcome Tadej Pogacar again so he can try to complete his set of Grand Tours.
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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