Jonas Vingegaard begins his latest effort to step out of Tadej Pogačar’s shadow and reclaim his status as a Grand Tour winner this Saturday at the Vuelta a España. The Dane has not won a Grand Tour in two years—his last victory was the 2023 Tour de France—a period marked by a near-fatal crash and some internal team tension over leadership within Visma–Lease a Bike.
A key factor in Vingegaard’s Vuelta hopes is the absence of a weary Pogačar, who was last seen supporting his partner, Urška Žigart, at the Tour de Romandie Féminin, wearing a jersey that read “Do Not Disturb” and “No Photography.” After winning his fourth Tour de France, the 26-year-old Slovenian has spoken openly about the end of his career, saying, “I’m already counting down to retirement. I started winning early, so I know there might be quieter seasons. But I’ll probably ride a few more Tours—it’s the biggest race, and I doubt my team would leave me out.”
With Remco Evenepoel’s transfer confirmed—the Olympic road and time trial champion will join Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe next season—the Belgian is skipping the Vuelta to focus on next month’s Tour of Britain.
For Vingegaard, whose career risks stalling due to inconsistency and unmet expectations, the Vuelta offers a perfect chance to bounce back. Even without Pogačar, his biggest challenge may come from the Slovenian’s UAE Team Emirates, which fields Juan Ayuso and João Almeida. The 22-year-old Ayuso has the talent to win a Grand Tour but has yet to prove it, while Almeida, who crashed out of the Tour, excels in shorter stage races but is less certain over three weeks.
Others, like Britain’s Tom Pidcock, see the Vuelta’s mix of steep climbs and technical sprints as an opportunity to cap off a strong season. Pidcock, who started the year battling Pogačar at Strade Bianche, is among those targeting both stage wins and a high overall finish. His Q36.5 team did not qualify for the Tour de France, but he finished 16th in this year’s Giro d’Italia and now says he is “curious to see what I can do in the general classification.” This represents a shift for the double Olympic gold medalist, who previously doubted his mindset for such a goal.
Pidcock’s former team, Ineos Grenadiers, arrives at the Vuelta led by 2019 Tour winner Egan Bernal. They aim to build on their two stage wins in July’s Tour while avoiding further attention on David Rozman, a staff member under investigation. For Bernal to reach the podium in Madrid, he will need a more strategic approach than in May’s Giro, where an up-and-down performance landed him in seventh—the team’s best Grand Tour result since Geraint Thomas placed third in the 2024 Giro.
Still, having missed out on signing Evenepoel, the British team continues to lag behind its rivals.The big three teams are Vingegaard’s Visma–Lease a Bike, Pogacar’s UAE Emirates, and Evenepoel’s newly sponsored Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Dave Brailsford has reportedly put all transfer activity on hold. Even if the soon-to-retire Thomas quickly takes on a management role within the Grenadiers, the team’s often-mentioned “period of transition” continues.
As this is the Tour of Spain, the race naturally starts in Italy. The first four stages zigzag from Turin to Novara before crossing into France, followed by a long transfer to Figueres, where the race finally enters Spain.
The route includes a team time trial, an individual time trial, and six summit finishes—among them the feared climbs of the Angliru and the precarious Bola del Mundo. These are paired with the usual mix of challenging hilly stages and fast sprint finishes.
As always, the decisive moments will come on the steepest mountain climbs, which are considered Vingegaard’s specialty. With the absence of the rider often called the “GOAT,” it will be up to the Dane to seize the opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Jonas Vingegaards chances at the Vuelta a España
Beginner Questions
Q Who is Jonas Vingegaard
A He is a Danish professional cyclist and the twotime winner of the Tour de France He is considered one of the best climbers and overall riders in the world
Q What is the Vuelta a España
A Its one of cyclings three Grand Tours along with the Tour de France and Giro dItalia Its a threeweek stage race held primarily in Spain known for its steep difficult climbs
Q Why is Tadej Pogaars absence a big deal
A Tadej Pogaar is Vingegaards biggest rival and one of the only riders who can consistently challenge him in the mountains Without him the field of top contenders is significantly weaker
Q What does likely fatigued mean for other riders
A Many top riders who competed in the Tour de France will be tired from that effort Since Vingegaard skipped the Tour due to injury he will be much fresher giving him a potential physical advantage
Intermediate Advanced Questions
Q With Pogaar out who are Vingegaards main rivals at the Vuelta
A His main competition will likely come from riders like Remco Evenepoel Primoz Rogli and possibly riders like Juan Ayuso or Joo Almeida
Q What are Vingegaards biggest strengths for this race
A His incredible climbing ability his strong team and his fresh legs compared to rivals who just finished the grueling Tour de France
Q What could be Vingegaards biggest challenge or weakness
A The main question is his race fitness He is returning from a serious crash and injuries sustained in April While he has had time to recover nothing replicates the intensity of actual racing so his form is an unknown
Q How does the Vuelta route suit Vingegaards skills
