“He’s not coming to race it, he’s coming to win it” - Vuelta a Espana director after Tadej Pogacar's confirms return
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s participation in the Vuelta a España 2026 is now a reality and, for the race organisation, one of the best pieces of news in recent years. That’s how Javier Guillén, Vuelta director, put it in an interview on El Larguero on Cadena SER, where he described the Slovenian’s presence as “a genuine success” for the race.
“We see it as a real success that Tadej can come. Congratulations to all cycling fans and, above all, to Spanish fans because we will finally have Tadej Pogacar,” said Guillén, who admitted the organisation’s relief once the announcement became official.
He explained that UAE Team Emirates wanted to share the decision personally before going public. “The team had the courtesy to call me to tell me and today, when we saw the announcement, we could breathe,” he said.
The director of the Spanish Grand Tour has no doubts about the intentions of the reigning Tour de France champion. “He’s not coming to ride the Vuelta, he’s coming to win it,” he stated firmly.
Pogacar the favourite to win La Vuelta
Guillén also revealed that the organisation had long been working in the hope of securing the Slovenian. “We had serious hopes in 2024 and 2025, but we were always told he had to race the Tour and, once he raced the Tour, he would make the final decision,” he explained.
One factor that, in his view, may have helped was the race start in Monaco, Pogacar’s place of residence. “Starting in Monaco helps a bit, because he lives there,” he noted.
Beyond the sporting angle, Guillén highlighted the huge media impact of the Slovenian’s presence. “In terms of following and reach it’s exponential and puts you at the top in terms of startlists. You always want hard racing and a sporting spectacle, but the first question is always who’s coming,” he said.
He also publicly thanked the rider for his commitment. “It’s very important for the Vuelta and we thank him with all humility. This rider only knows how to put on a show,” he concluded.
As for the other big names in the peloton, Guillén hinted at a significant absence. Asked about Juan Ayuso, he was clear: “I don’t think Ayuso is going to ride the Vuelta.”
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
Granada to replace Madrid as the Vuelta finish
During the interview he also explained why the 2026 Vuelta will finish in Granada rather than Madrid, a decision that coincides with Formula 1 taking place in the capital.
“We told Madrid that we wouldn’t always finish there. The opportunity came up to end in Granada and we already agreed we wouldn’t go to Madrid this year. At that point the Formula 1 overlap appeared and everything lined up positively,” he said.
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For Guillén, the overlap benefits both events. “I think this year it’s good that the Vuelta doesn’t finish in Madrid so the City Council and the Region can focus exclusively on Formula 1 and we can fulfil the dream of finishing in Granada.”
Even so, he made it clear that the two events could coexist in future editions without issue. “If any other year Formula 1 and the Vuelta were to coincide in Madrid on the same day, it’s accepted, understood, discussed, and we have no problem at all,” he concluded.
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Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
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