Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar will compete in this month’s Vuelta a España, which takes place from August 22 to September 13.
The Slovenian rider confirmed his participation on Monday after weeks of speculation over whether he would compete in Spain following his Tour de France triumph. The Vuelta remains the only Grand Tour Pogačar has yet to win.
“The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way, and the Vuelta will be a big target. The team is strong, and we hope to do good things,” Pogačar said.
Pogačar claimed the 2024 Giro d’Italia title with a winning margin of nearly 10 minutes, adding another major achievement to his career. The Slovenian first appeared at a Grand Tour event at the Vuelta a España in 2019, where he finished third overall.
“I’m excited to say I’m going back to La Vuelta. It was my first ever Grand Tour back in 2019 and an amazing experience,” he said.
“Spain is a country I love to visit and race in, and I think the time is right to go back.”
Pogacar has won many of the sport’s biggest races. In addition to his five Tour titles, he has won the Tour of Flanders (three times), Milan-San Remo (once), the Road World Championships (twice), Il Lombardia (five times), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (four times) and the Giro, according to BBC.
The 81st edition of La Vuelta will begin with an individual time trial in Monaco before crossing France and Andorra on its way to Spain. The course features seven mountain-top finishes, two individual time trials, and nearly 3,300 kilometers of racing before the final stage in Granada.
