The race director explained the calendar clearly plays into the Slovenian’s hands. After a Tour de France he dominated with authority and without reaching the physical limit of recent seasons, Pogacar will have several weeks to recover before the La Vuelta start, scheduled for the 22nd of August in Monaco.
Added to that is a route shaped for explosive, all-round riders like him, plus a further incentive: the chance to tune up for the World Championships in Canada while chasing the only Grand Tour still missing from his extraordinary palmarès.
Tadej Pogacar at the 2026 Tour de France
Monaco as a lure for Tadej Pogacar’s participation
Guillén also highlighted a potentially decisive detail. The race will start this year in Monaco, the city where Pogacar lives, a circumstance that removes travel and adds a strong emotional component.
“We’ve created an extra incentive because we start practically from his home,” the race boss explained, noting that the rider himself told Prince Albert of his excitement about being on the start line.
Even so, the organisation remains cautious. Although optimism is evident, the final decision rests solely with the rider and his team.
In
an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Guillén doubled down on that stance: “We would be absolutely thrilled and it would be a great joy if Tadej Pogacar could take the start in Monaco,” while stressing the organisation wants to respect the rider’s timing before making any announcement.
That balance between excitement and caution shapes La Vuelta’s official line. Nobody wants to inflate expectations that may not materialize, yet they do not hide that the Slovenian’s presence would provide an extraordinary boost for the race.
The decision on Pogacar's participation was made this Tuesday, and La Vuelta's social media activity hints at a positive response.
The route crosses four countries
No wonder. Pogacar is riding one of the most dominant streaks in modern cycling, and his mere presence guarantees massive global media attention. Guillén even called him “the best cyclist in history” and a “true living legend,” aware of the immense pull he holds for fans, sponsors, and media.
The Slovenian’s possible participation also arrives alongside a notably ambitious route. The 2026 edition will be one of the most international in recent years, starting in Monaco, passing through France and Andorra before entering Spain, with the Mediterranean arc and Andalusia taking centre stage.
Far from the traditional northern itineraries, the organisers have backed a different design that will traverse all eight Andalusian provinces and finish, for the first time, in Granada.
The finale in front of the Alhambra stands as one of this edition’s great symbols. Guillén believes ending the race beside Andalusia’s most iconic monument will offer an image to resonate worldwide, replacing the usual Madrid conclusion with a day of greater sporting bite.
The route also adds several features set to open gaps. Chief among them is the first sterrato incursion in La Vuelta’s history, a dirt-road stage in Castellón that could spring unexpected splits among the favourites.
Andalusia: key to La Vuelta 2026
There are also two stages exceeding 5,000 metres of total climbing, with summit finishes at Aitana and the unprecedented Alto del Alguacil, plus a pass over Calar Alto above 2,000 metres, and a time trial between El Puerto de Santa María and Jerez strategically placed in the second half of the race.
All of this shapes a route that, on paper, seems perfectly tailored to Pogacar’s skill set.
Even so, Guillén also stressed that the drama of a Grand Tour doesn’t hinge solely on the Slovenian’s presence. The race director expects riders like Primoz Roglic, who will chase a record fifth La Vuelta title, as well as Enric Mas, Carlos Rodríguez, and Mikel Landa, to raise the competitive bar and complicate the path of the reigning Tour champion.
“We want the best riders,” he summed up, while adding that he also needs the challengers at peak level to keep the suspense that has always defined the Spanish race.
After winning the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar looks set to be part of La Vuelta
Scorching temperatures set to play a key role
Another concern for the organisers will be heat management. With ten race days in Andalucía, Guillén explained that La Vuelta has learned from the Tour de France this summer and is working with the UCI to improve rider hydration and adjust the rules when needed, though he considers it premature to set contingency plans before knowing the actual weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the organisation awaits the summer’s most anticipated announcement. If Pogacar confirms his start, La Vuelta won’t just feature the best rider of the moment, it will gain a surge in global visibility that’s hard to match. The chance to see the Slovenian chase the only Grand Tour missing from his palmarès would make the 2026 edition one of the most high-profile in recent years and reinforce the unpredictable character of a race that prides itself on delivering action to the very last kilometre.