Tadej Pogacar 'very unlikely' to race 2025 Vuelta a España - Juan Ayuso could be replacement for World Champion

Tadej Pogacar's growing fatigue, both physical and mental, seem more and more likely to cut his plan to race the Tour-Vuelta combo this season. Whilst this possibility remains open, the Slovenian has admitted to just be 'counting kilometers to Paris' throughout the entire final week of the Tour and has grown ever more discontent. With this, the door opens for other riders at UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

The question was thrown to Pogacar during the Tour, but the answer remains the same as has been since December: A decision will be made after the Tour. We are now in the final day of the Tour, and the Slovenian's statements do not show the face of a rider motivated to start a second Grand Tour within just less than a month.

Pogacar, besides the incredibly difficult Tour in which he said there was only one day taken easy, has had months of preparation and racing at the Criterium du Dauphiné which he also won. Pogacar is looking for his time off after months of extreme attention to detail, and most likely will also take time off the bike after the end of the Tour de France Femmes with his partner Urska Zigart.

According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio, the chances of Pogacar racing the Vuelta grow smaller and smaller. The team also puts no pressure on the Slovenian to do so, taking into consideration the results achieved in July but also the team's vast array of strong riders who will be seeking the opportunity.

The absence of Pogacar would also open up the table for a participation for Juan Ayuso. The Spaniard wasn't able to complete the Giro d'Italia due to a sequence of injuries that affected his race, and recently he has changed his racing calendar - he had been marked to ride a few races in Spain, where Isaac del Toro and UAE Team Emirates - XRG brought in several victories.

Whilst Ayuso is outlined to race the Clàsica San Sebastiàn, Tour de Pologne and then the Canadian classics ahead of the World Championships, this could certainly changed if he is called up to race the Vuelta where it's been said that he was first reserve. Spanish news outlet AS also reports that he could be at the Vuelta, taking into consideration how João Almeida might also not arrive at the race with his best form after his premature end to the Tour de France.