Tadej Pogacar to ride the 2026 Vuelta a Espana? - Speculation of return to Spanish grand tour gains momentum at the Tour de France
CyclingTuesday, 14 July 2026 at 12:05
The prospect of seeing Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana has moved a step closer. According to AS at the Tour de France, the Slovenian is seriously considering tackling the Spanish Grand Tour this summer and, as of today, that option is stronger than ever.
Although the final decision is not yet made and will largely depend on how the Tour de France ends, the Vuelta has gained weight in the UAE Team Emirates XRG leader’s planning as the weeks have gone by.
Pogacar’s potential start is not a spur‑of‑the‑moment idea. The Vuelta was already on the table during last winter’s season planning, when the team mapped out the reigning Tour champion’s calendar.
Now, with the Grande Boucle still in play and the Slovenian well placed on GC, the scenario looks even more favorable to chase a second major target before the Worlds. If he finishes the Tour without excessive fatigue, the likelihood of riding the Vuelta will rise considerably.
Pogacar’s presence at the Spanish race would mean reshaping a key part of his usual schedule. In recent years, he has used the post‑Tour window to race the Canadian classics in Quebec and Montreal before the Worlds. However, both overlap with the Vuelta, so he would have to forgo them.
Tadej Pogacar, en el Tour de Francia 2026.
Changes to Pogacar’s calendar
The current roadmap points to riding the Vuelta a Espana and then flying directly to the Worlds in Canada, where he will aim to add to his outstanding palmarès. It would not be the first time Pogacar has been close to starting the Spanish Grand Tour. In 2025 he seriously weighed it up, but the heavy load after the Tour tipped the balance towards rest to safeguard his late‑season form.
This time, the situation looks different. The idea is far more established and the rider himself keeps the option open to return to a race he has not contested for seven years. As is often the case with the Slovenian, the final call will be his alone.
The Vuelta remains one of Pogacar’s major unfinished business. He has already conquered the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, but he has yet to win the third Grand Tour on the calendar, a triumph that would complete the prestigious Triple Crown of Grand Tours.
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Should his participation be confirmed, he would start as the standout favorite for the red jersey. Pogacar’s last appearance at the Vuelta dates back to 2019, when he was just 20 and truly burst onto the global stage.
That summer he delivered a memorable performance, taking three stage wins and finishing third overall, only behind Primož Roglič and Alejandro Valverde. He has not returned to the Spanish race since.
While the final start list is still weeks away, several leading contenders have already confirmed they will be at the Vuelta. They include Primoz Roglic, Enric Mas, and João Almeida, Pogacar’s teammate at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and a genuine GC candidate.
If the Slovenian champion does commit, the Vuelta’s field would take a major step up and the race would welcome back one of the defining riders of modern cycling. Seven years on from his debut, Pogacar’s return to the Spanish tour is closer than ever.
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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