Javier Guillen: "I think there is a great chance that Tadej Pogacar will be at the Vuelta a Espana in 2025”

It seems crazy to say, but just six months ago, Tadej Pogacar hadn't won a Grand Tour for nearly three years. Now though, the Slovenian is on top of the world of cycling and following a first Maglia Rosa from the Giro d'Italia and a third Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France, just one of the three week stage races is missing from Pogacar's palmares.

As such, the Vuelta a Espana race director Javier Guillen is growing in excitement and anticipation for Pogacar's seemingly inevitable arrival. Could the UAE Team Emirates leader even make the journey to Italy as soon as next year though? According to Guillen, the chances are high.

“We are excited and delighted that Pogacar could come to the Vuelta. We are absolutely respectful of the decision that the rider may make, but there is a certain reality, that the only Grand Tour that he is missing is the Vuelta," the Spaniard says in quotes collected by AS. "When he decides to come to race it he will be more than welcome, but if you ask me, I think there is a great chance that he will be here in 2025.”

Pogacar was completely and utterly dominant at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, taking home no fewer than six stage victories, the aforementioned Maglia Rosa as race winner but also the King of the Mountains jersey to boot. Then, at the Tour de France, Pogacar gained some revenge on his arch-rival Jonas Vingegaard, reclaiming the Maillot Jaune after two successive second placed finishes in 2022 and 2023 adding another six stage wins to his ever-growing palmares. Competing in 2025 with the Rainbow Jersey as world champion for the first time ever, could it be the perfect time for the Slovenian to attempt to complete his set of Grand Tour triumphs?