“I’m very optimistic”: Javier Guillén fuels hopes of seeing Pogacar at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana

The prospect of Tadej Pogacar riding the Vuelta a Espana 2026 is gathering momentum. Although the Slovenian has yet to confirm his presence, the signs are increasingly positive, especially after the words of Javier Guillén, director of the Spanish Grand Tour, during his appearance on Eurosport’s La Montonera.

Guillén sounded very optimistic about bringing the reigning world champion to a landmark edition of the race, which will open with an individual time trial in Monaco.

“Hopefully. What I believe he told the Prince (Albert of Monaco) is that he would like to. That means that, when the Prince asked him, he wanted to be there. There’s a lot of Tour left, and the team has said the decision will come after the Tour. I’m very optimistic, I think there are many possibilities. I need to hear ‘yes, I want to ride the Vuelta’ from him, but, of course, the Prince’s view carries real weight,” the race director explained.

Guillén also recalled Pogacar’s first appearance at the 2019 Vuelta a España, where the then emerging Slovenian talent stunned the cycling world before becoming one of the peloton’s biggest stars.

“I remember it perfectly. The last or penultimate stage, which finished in the Sierra de Gredos, there was plenty of debate about how it was managed because many believe he could have won it. He already showed signs, but we couldn’t imagine how far he would go. And what still lies ahead. That he made his Grand Tour debut at La Vuelta is a source of pride, and now he has to come back to finish the job,” he said.

The race director also ran through some of the big names he expects on the start line if Pogacar ultimately confirms his participation.

“We’re expecting Primoz Roglic, to see if he can take a fifth Vuelta, Carlos Rodríguez, Joao Almeida, Felix Gall, and Wout van Aert, who I think is a great animator of races. It was a pity how it ended last time, but having him here would be one of the biggest joys.”

Finally, Guillén highlighted the toughness of the 2026 route and how Pogacar’s presence could raise the competitive bar even higher.

“It’s a very mountainous Vuelta, with very hard stages, over 5,000 metres of climbing. It builds as it goes: on day three we already have a summit finish, day four the mountain stage in Andorra, a sterrato sector in Castellón… and up to the penultimate stage in Calahorra (Alto del Alguacil), which is one of the ones we’re most excited about. We hope everything stays tight until then. If Pogacar comes, I’m not sure he’ll allow that, but as he’ll arrive a bit more fatigued and with fresh riders around him, we’ll likely see more competition.”

Pending the final decision from UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Pogacar himself once the Tour de France ends, the organisers’ optimism suggests that the Vuelta a España 2026 could feature one of the biggest possible attractions for cycling fans.