It was an open secret. However, UAE Team Emirates - XRG have not obviously been too secretive when it comes to Tadej Pogacar's schedule this season. Almost everyone knows that he is set to race the Vuelta a España, however a report now suggests this was already confirmed within the team.
The news was brought forward by journalist Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzeta dello Sport: "It wasn't a secret at all. UAE Team Emirates XRG sources have confirmed to us that, after the Tour de France, Pogacar will be at the start of the Vuelta a España six years after his first and only participation."
Thus, fans will be able to enjoy a double challenge Tadej Pogacar vs Jonas Vingegaard on 2 of the 3 Grand Tours of cycling in 2025, as before La Vuelta they will face each other for the fifth time in the Tour.
For Pogacar, the decision is quite logical. After achieving the Giro d'Italia - Tour de France double in 2024, going it alone for the Grande Boucle in 2025 felt unambitious. After having the best individual year in cycling history, the world champion will want to win the only Grand Tour he hasn't so far and there is little reason to delay a return to the Spanish Grand Tour.
The Vuelta a España is not yet in his palmares, so it was clear that sooner or later he was going to try it. The only time he participated was 6 years ago. In that 2019 edition, a very young Pogacar finished 3rd overall, only behind Primoz Roglic and Alejandro Valverde, as well as winning three stages. It was his first-ever Grand Tour.
As to whether he will make his debut in Paris-Roubaix this year, rumors and statements remain contradictory. Pogacar has yet to test himself in the Hell of the North. It's another race he has yet to add to his long list of successes. Everything points to the fact that we will have to wait at least until he races Milano-Sanremo, next March 22, to know his final decision.
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Info @Gazzetta_it It's not at all a secret, anyway @TeamEmiratesUAE sources confirmed us that after @LeTour this year @TamauPogi will be at the start of @lavuelta six years after his first (and so far only) participation @cycling_podcast
— Ciro Scognamiglio (@cirogazzetta) March 2, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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