{"id":2101665,"date":"2026-08-19T06:48:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2101665"},"modified":"2026-08-19T06:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:48:10","slug":"the-vuelta-is-going-to-be-arduous-even-for-tadej-uae-performance-head-warns-that-nobody-not-even-pogacar-will-have-it-easy-this-summer-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2101665","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;The Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej&#8217; \u2013 UAE performance head warns that nobody, not even Poga\u010dar, will have it easy this summer in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpghttps:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-2560-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BA34nJiPUVCN2EN7yKmEC7-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BA34nJiPUVCN2EN7yKmEC7-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d expected to race the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a but with no GC ambitions\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F2bK8PXsbcFyfsZ5xEpwYm-160-80.png.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/F2bK8PXsbcFyfsZ5xEpwYm-80-80.png.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Gravel, time trials and the &#8216;Angliru of the south&#8217; \u2013 The five key stages that will decide the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;The Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej&#8217; \u2013 UAE performance head warns that nobody, not even Poga\u010dar, will have it easy this summer in Spain<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-19T06:48:10Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Performance head Jeroen Swart discusses build-up and possible race strategies for Slovenian in fight for first-ever victory in Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Poga\u010dar is chasing his first Vuelta title this year<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b\">Such is Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s success rate that nobody expects anything but victory these days \u2013 and since early 2024, there&#8217;s been little reason to change that particular mantra in cycling.<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back wins in three Grand Tours, two of them the Tour de France and one the Giro d&#8217;Italia, not to mention eight Monuments and two World Championships within that time span alone, do tend to have that effect. And when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, even if he hasn&#8217;t tackled it since 2019, we are expecting an identical scenario of total domination along the roads of Monaco, France, Andorra and, finally, Spain this August and September.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, given we&#8217;re looking at the toughest Vuelta route in recent history, with over 58,000 metres of elevation gain, nobody can take anything for granted, UAE Team Emirates-XRG head of performance Jeroen Swart warns. And that goes for Poga\u010dar as much as for anyone else.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773404e2-9b20-11f1-87d6-a7145e25ba5e\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7734055a-9b20-11f1-b115-05d9a3b1456a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the plus side for Poga\u010dar, Swart says, the key element for success at a relatively late point in the season, though, pivots on motivation, rather than straight physical strength, as might be more the case in, say, the Giro d&#8217;Italia.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the case of the 27-year-old Slovenian star, there are plenty of reasons to want to fight hard for the right to wear <em>la roja <\/em>in the shadow of the Alhambra palace in Granada in just under a month&#8217;s time. But arguably even more to the point, Poga\u010dar&#8217;s preparation and race program have been meticulously channelled throughout 2027 to ensure he&#8217;s in the ideal place, mentally, to do that.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Unstoppable? The five biggest challenges that Tadej Poga\u010dar will face at this year&#8217;s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That is why, Swart explains, whilst the training program since May was built for Poga\u010dar to peak at the Tour, the race program was designed to try to keep the Slovenian fresh and keen to compete as deep into the season as possible. That&#8217;s not just in the late-season one-day races \u2013 as he has done plenty of times in previous years \u2013 but also, for the first time in his career, in late summer Grand Tour stage races like the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;His physical preparation was focused on July, as it should be, in that sense the Vuelta comes simply as an add-on,&#8221; Swart told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> during the countdown to the Spanish Grand Tour.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429dfa-9a52-11f1-a16a-49a83df61d7c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2024 Giro d&#8217;Italia stage 2: Tadej Poga\u010dar celebrates the victory <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429e72-9a52-11f1-bf14-9b5a78d267a6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not necessarily something that would dictate the training prior to the Tour. But the race calendar was by design, it was always aimed at giving him the mental freshness to be able to do the Vuelta if he decided that he definitely wanted to do it, after he&#8217;d finished the Tour.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The calendar definitely took into account the potential of doing the Vuelta and would have been purposefully less arduous to keep him mentally fresh and interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar&#8217;s previous experience of doing a double Grand Tour between the Giro d&#8217;Italia and Tour de France (winning both in 2024) proved very useful in what was and what wasn&#8217;t repeated between the Tour and Vuelta, Swart says.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar and UAE Team Emirates meet to discuss and decide on targeting Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;This is the best year for Tadej Poga\u010dar to come&#8217;\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a director confident in Tour de France champion&#8217;s participation, with little concern over likely dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar confirmed for first return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a since 2019 Grand Tour debut<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the one side, the goal between Paris on July 19 and Monaco on August 22 was simply recovering and maintaining form. But on the other, the option of taking on another altitude camp, in what would have been a repeat of what Poga\u010dar did in 2024 at Isola 2000 after winning the Giro and before heading to the Tour, was not considered.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;There&#8217;s not a lot of time, so there&#8217;s not a lot you can do, it&#8217;s pretty straightforward,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;But we omitted the altitude training.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a cognitive effort to be away and do that, and we&#8217;re later in the year. When you talk about the transition from Giro to Tour, it&#8217;s still early, there&#8217;s more freshness. At this point in the season, you know you want him to be just recovering both mentally and physically. At a camp, there&#8217;s that mental effort required as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"getting-the-job-done-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Getting the job done<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429f58-9a52-11f1-a985-1328c88dad9a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Ever since it moved to 1995 from its previous spring slot to September, the Vuelta has been a race where it&#8217;s often easy to perceive how among an often glittering start list of stars, there is a real mix between those present out of obligation, and those who are actually keen to compete.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously enough, the previous five-time Tour de France winner, Miguel Indurain was a case in point. All but told by his team that he had to race the Vuelta in 1996, Indurain&#8217;s enthusiasm for taking part that summer in his home race was minimal and he ended up abandoning, prior to quitting the sport altogether at the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar, on the other hand, is in a very different place to that and if he&#8217;s racing, it&#8217;s because he wants to. So we&#8217;re lightyears away from the Indurain scenario, or even the much less dramatic situation post-Tour for Poga\u010dar in 2025 when he only opted out of racing the Vuelta for certain after he&#8217;d won in July.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But in any case, the mental side of things and simply wanting to be there, Swart agrees, is what matters the most when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, and historically that&#8217;s as true for Poga\u010dar as it is for anybody else.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It definitely is. Tadej&#8217;s physical ability is unmatched, and so it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated. And interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">When various reasons for that interest are put to Swart, like Poga\u010dar not having won the Vuelta before, the fact that it would see him take the &#8216;triple crown&#8217; of Grand Tours, and also &#8220;simply because he&#8217;s competitive and winning is what he likes&#8221;, Swart answers immediately .&#8221;Everything you&#8217;ve just said.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He last did the Vuelta in 2019, he hasn&#8217;t won it, winning would give him that triple crown and that&#8217;s definitely a big motivator as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-773405e6-9b20-11f1-b9ee-efed4ba30246\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar won his first Grand Tour stage at the Vuelta in 2019 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7734065e-9b20-11f1-86f4-cdd5f032df7d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for the fact it&#8217;s starting in Monaco, where Poga\u010dar lives during the season, Swart says that he&#8217;s not aware that it was a factor that influenced the UAE leader&#8217;s decision to do it this year. &#8220;But,&#8221; as he adds, &#8220;it certainly helps.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Then there&#8217;s the route. The format of the Vuelta, with major mountains early on on stage 4 in Andorra, is remarkably similar both to the Giro and the Tour in 2024, with a lot of high mountain stages in the first week, as well as the Tour in 2023, which went into the Pyrenees soon after the start in Bilbao.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773406c2-9b20-11f1-a572-05c4425360c7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gravel, time trials and the &#8216;Angliru of the south&#8217; \u2013 The five key stages that will decide the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-77340730-9b20-11f1-b7a6-4fe8e1a2a3db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Swart points out that the nature of the 2026 Vuelta route means it would be ideal for Poga\u010dar to hit the ground running \u2013 and that&#8217;s something he&#8217;s done before to devastating effect in the three previous Grand Tours. But at the same time, he cautions that the extreme difficulty of the Vuelta is something that they&#8217;ve thought about and tried to factor in as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It&#8217;s not that UAE fear the toughness of the Vuelta could have a knock-on effect into 2027 (although interestingly, back in the day, racing so deep for so long into the autumn used to make the Vuelta a favoured option for Classics riders wanting a good base for the first half of the following one-day season). Rather, the idea that he could ease off a little in the third week with a view to being in top condition in the World Championships and above all, fresher, is definitely on the minds of the UAE management.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This Vuelta is just full on all the way through,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;In some ways, that is helpful because it&#8217;s decisive very soon and a GC lead can be built steadily and early on as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But the Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej and especially after doing the Tour. It&#8217;s a hard and a long race.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll have an effect on him going into 2027. Following the World Championships he&#8217;ll get to his end of the season, I&#8217;m sure and recover more than adequately so I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a concern, really.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;However, obviously, you have to see how the race unfolds, I&#8217;m sure if you&#8217;re looking at\u2026.starting with the TT and stage 4 already, it could be very decisive in terms of the GC.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So I think it&#8217;s one of those situations where the second half of the race may be an opportunity to be a bit more conservative and then save himself for those other goals. That would be an intelligent way to do things. We&#8217;ll have to see how it unfolds, but that would definitely be a factor.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429fc6-9a52-11f1-8af1-b995d424fbd6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar finished on the podium in 2019, but will settle for nothing less than the top step this year <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-773407a8-9b20-11f1-acdd-071e4c8c4753\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">From a purely scientific, performance point of view, the Vuelta is not, Swart says, one of excessive interest. As Swart sees it, the margin Poga\u010dar needs to have on his rivals, given the the level of competition, is not as high, means this is a race with a very specific objective, and where the main goal is to sign off with the right result in Poga\u010dar&#8217;s palmar\u00e8s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s going to be anything that&#8217;s a revelation,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;I think Tadej has already proven that he can do two grand Tours, comfortably, in succession.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then if we look at his form at the Tour de France and the margin he had on his competitors, so naturally, the level of competition at the Vuelta will be a little bit below that of the Tour de France, and so I don&#8217;t necessarily think there&#8217;s anything that we&#8217;re looking for in terms of any spectacular revelation or performance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Rather, I think it&#8217;s more a matter of getting the job done.&#8221; Which, given Poga\u010dar&#8217;s track record, can only mean one result in four weeks time in Granada.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a42a19c-9a52-11f1-8a5f-a545b5bc9f5b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Unstoppable? The five biggest challenges that Tadej Poga\u010dar will face at this year&#8217;s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar and UAE Team Emirates meet to discuss and decide on targeting Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;This is the best year for Tadej Poga\u010dar to come&#8217;\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a director confident in Tour de France champion&#8217;s participation, with little concern over likely dominance<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar confirmed for first return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a since 2019 Grand Tour debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Transfers<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Abel Balderstone breaks contract to join UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Last chance saloon \u2013 The riders and teams who need to turn their season around at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Fundraiser for Finlay Tarling doubles its target as donations flow in<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Bob Jungels calls time on 15-year professional cycling career to take on new business venture<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I think my season&#8217;s over&#8217; &#8211; Lucas Bourgoyne misses momentum at American Criterium Cup with appendectomy<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Quinn Simmons, Luke Lamperti, Maggie Coles-Lyster and Kristen Faulkner among WorldTour riders confirmed for Philadelphia Cycling Classic<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Last chance saloon \u2013 The riders and teams who need to turn their season around at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Used bibs, \u00a32 jerseys, and fake Rapha wares \u2013 Inside the wild west of buying second-hand cycling kit<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Leadville nobody knew&#8217; \u2013 Revised course eliminates final &#8216;gut punch&#8217; of Powerline climb but Columbine and elevation keep you humble<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-600-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-600-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Rapha Summer Sale now has as much as 60% off \u2013 but you&#8217;ll have to be quick to grab the &#8216;Final Markdown&#8217; discounts<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;AI could reverse cycling 2.0&#8217;s gains&#8217; \u2013 Why artificial intelligence could become an anti-doping scientist&#8217;s worst nightmare<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A once-in-a-career kind of thing&#8217; \u2013 A year on from a stunning victory, Canada&#8217;s top women riders look ahead to &#8216;special&#8217; home Road World Championships<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>SD Worx-Protime keep attacks in check and navigate narrow roads to prevail on opening stage at Tour of Britain Women<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;AI could reverse cycling 2.0&#8217;s gains&#8217; \u2013 Why artificial intelligence could become an anti-doping scientist&#8217;s worst nightmare<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Renewi Tour: Jonathan Milan edges out Olav Kooij in photo finish to win a messy opening stage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour du Limousin: Ewen Costiou takes the overall lead after a solo stage 2 victory<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour of Britain Women: Lorena Wiebes snatches sprint victory on stage 1 ahead of Chiara Consonni<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;The Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej&#8217; \u2013 UAE performance head warns that nobody, not even Poga\u010dar, will have it easy this summer in Spain<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-19T06:48:10Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Performance head Jeroen Swart discusses build-up and possible race strategies for Slovenian in fight for first-ever victory in Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Poga\u010dar is chasing his first Vuelta title this year<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b\">Such is Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s success rate that nobody expects anything but victory these days \u2013 and since early 2024, there&#8217;s been little reason to change that particular mantra in cycling.<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back wins in three Grand Tours, two of them the Tour de France and one the Giro d&#8217;Italia, not to mention eight Monuments and two World Championships within that time span alone, do tend to have that effect. And when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, even if he hasn&#8217;t tackled it since 2019, we are expecting an identical scenario of total domination along the roads of Monaco, France, Andorra and, finally, Spain this August and September.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, given we&#8217;re looking at the toughest Vuelta route in recent history, with over 58,000 metres of elevation gain, nobody can take anything for granted, UAE Team Emirates-XRG head of performance Jeroen Swart warns. And that goes for Poga\u010dar as much as for anyone else.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773404e2-9b20-11f1-87d6-a7145e25ba5e\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7734055a-9b20-11f1-b115-05d9a3b1456a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the plus side for Poga\u010dar, Swart says, the key element for success at a relatively late point in the season, though, pivots on motivation, rather than straight physical strength, as might be more the case in, say, the Giro d&#8217;Italia.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the case of the 27-year-old Slovenian star, there are plenty of reasons to want to fight hard for the right to wear <em>la roja <\/em>in the shadow of the Alhambra palace in Granada in just under a month&#8217;s time. But arguably even more to the point, Poga\u010dar&#8217;s preparation and race program have been meticulously channelled throughout 2027 to ensure he&#8217;s in the ideal place, mentally, to do that.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Unstoppable? The five biggest challenges that Tadej Poga\u010dar will face at this year&#8217;s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That is why, Swart explains, whilst the training program since May was built for Poga\u010dar to peak at the Tour, the race program was designed to try to keep the Slovenian fresh and keen to compete as deep into the season as possible. That&#8217;s not just in the late-season one-day races \u2013 as he has done plenty of times in previous years \u2013 but also, for the first time in his career, in late summer Grand Tour stage races like the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;His physical preparation was focused on July, as it should be, in that sense the Vuelta comes simply as an add-on,&#8221; Swart told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> during the countdown to the Spanish Grand Tour.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429dfa-9a52-11f1-a16a-49a83df61d7c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2024 Giro d&#8217;Italia stage 2: Tadej Poga\u010dar celebrates the victory <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429e72-9a52-11f1-bf14-9b5a78d267a6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not necessarily something that would dictate the training prior to the Tour. But the race calendar was by design, it was always aimed at giving him the mental freshness to be able to do the Vuelta if he decided that he definitely wanted to do it, after he&#8217;d finished the Tour.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The calendar definitely took into account the potential of doing the Vuelta and would have been purposefully less arduous to keep him mentally fresh and interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar&#8217;s previous experience of doing a double Grand Tour between the Giro d&#8217;Italia and Tour de France (winning both in 2024) proved very useful in what was and what wasn&#8217;t repeated between the Tour and Vuelta, Swart says.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar and UAE Team Emirates meet to discuss and decide on targeting Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;This is the best year for Tadej Poga\u010dar to come&#8217;\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a director confident in Tour de France champion&#8217;s participation, with little concern over likely dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar confirmed for first return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a since 2019 Grand Tour debut<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the one side, the goal between Paris on July 19 and Monaco on August 22 was simply recovering and maintaining form. But on the other, the option of taking on another altitude camp, in what would have been a repeat of what Poga\u010dar did in 2024 at Isola 2000 after winning the Giro and before heading to the Tour, was not considered.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;There&#8217;s not a lot of time, so there&#8217;s not a lot you can do, it&#8217;s pretty straightforward,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;But we omitted the altitude training.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a cognitive effort to be away and do that, and we&#8217;re later in the year. When you talk about the transition from Giro to Tour, it&#8217;s still early, there&#8217;s more freshness. At this point in the season, you know you want him to be just recovering both mentally and physically. At a camp, there&#8217;s that mental effort required as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"getting-the-job-done-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Getting the job done<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429f58-9a52-11f1-a985-1328c88dad9a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Ever since it moved to 1995 from its previous spring slot to September, the Vuelta has been a race where it&#8217;s often easy to perceive how among an often glittering start list of stars, there is a real mix between those present out of obligation, and those who are actually keen to compete.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously enough, the previous five-time Tour de France winner, Miguel Indurain was a case in point. All but told by his team that he had to race the Vuelta in 1996, Indurain&#8217;s enthusiasm for taking part that summer in his home race was minimal and he ended up abandoning, prior to quitting the sport altogether at the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar, on the other hand, is in a very different place to that and if he&#8217;s racing, it&#8217;s because he wants to. So we&#8217;re lightyears away from the Indurain scenario, or even the much less dramatic situation post-Tour for Poga\u010dar in 2025 when he only opted out of racing the Vuelta for certain after he&#8217;d won in July.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But in any case, the mental side of things and simply wanting to be there, Swart agrees, is what matters the most when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, and historically that&#8217;s as true for Poga\u010dar as it is for anybody else.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It definitely is. Tadej&#8217;s physical ability is unmatched, and so it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated. And interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">When various reasons for that interest are put to Swart, like Poga\u010dar not having won the Vuelta before, the fact that it would see him take the &#8216;triple crown&#8217; of Grand Tours, and also &#8220;simply because he&#8217;s competitive and winning is what he likes&#8221;, Swart answers immediately .&#8221;Everything you&#8217;ve just said.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He last did the Vuelta in 2019, he hasn&#8217;t won it, winning would give him that triple crown and that&#8217;s definitely a big motivator as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-773405e6-9b20-11f1-b9ee-efed4ba30246\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar won his first Grand Tour stage at the Vuelta in 2019 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7734065e-9b20-11f1-86f4-cdd5f032df7d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for the fact it&#8217;s starting in Monaco, where Poga\u010dar lives during the season, Swart says that he&#8217;s not aware that it was a factor that influenced the UAE leader&#8217;s decision to do it this year. &#8220;But,&#8221; as he adds, &#8220;it certainly helps.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Then there&#8217;s the route. The format of the Vuelta, with major mountains early on on stage 4 in Andorra, is remarkably similar both to the Giro and the Tour in 2024, with a lot of high mountain stages in the first week, as well as the Tour in 2023, which went into the Pyrenees soon after the start in Bilbao.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773406c2-9b20-11f1-a572-05c4425360c7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gravel, time trials and the &#8216;Angliru of the south&#8217; \u2013 The five key stages that will decide the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-77340730-9b20-11f1-b7a6-4fe8e1a2a3db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Swart points out that the nature of the 2026 Vuelta route means it would be ideal for Poga\u010dar to hit the ground running \u2013 and that&#8217;s something he&#8217;s done before to devastating effect in the three previous Grand Tours. But at the same time, he cautions that the extreme difficulty of the Vuelta is something that they&#8217;ve thought about and tried to factor in as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It&#8217;s not that UAE fear the toughness of the Vuelta could have a knock-on effect into 2027 (although interestingly, back in the day, racing so deep for so long into the autumn used to make the Vuelta a favoured option for Classics riders wanting a good base for the first half of the following one-day season). Rather, the idea that he could ease off a little in the third week with a view to being in top condition in the World Championships and above all, fresher, is definitely on the minds of the UAE management.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This Vuelta is just full on all the way through,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;In some ways, that is helpful because it&#8217;s decisive very soon and a GC lead can be built steadily and early on as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But the Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej and especially after doing the Tour. It&#8217;s a hard and a long race.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll have an effect on him going into 2027. Following the World Championships he&#8217;ll get to his end of the season, I&#8217;m sure and recover more than adequately so I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a concern, really.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;However, obviously, you have to see how the race unfolds, I&#8217;m sure if you&#8217;re looking at\u2026.starting with the TT and stage 4 already, it could be very decisive in terms of the GC.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So I think it&#8217;s one of those situations where the second half of the race may be an opportunity to be a bit more conservative and then save himself for those other goals. That would be an intelligent way to do things. We&#8217;ll have to see how it unfolds, but that would definitely be a factor.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429fc6-9a52-11f1-8af1-b995d424fbd6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar finished on the podium in 2019, but will settle for nothing less than the top step this year <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-773407a8-9b20-11f1-acdd-071e4c8c4753\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">From a purely scientific, performance point of view, the Vuelta is not, Swart says, one of excessive interest. As Swart sees it, the margin Poga\u010dar needs to have on his rivals, given the the level of competition, is not as high, means this is a race with a very specific objective, and where the main goal is to sign off with the right result in Poga\u010dar&#8217;s palmar\u00e8s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s going to be anything that&#8217;s a revelation,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;I think Tadej has already proven that he can do two grand Tours, comfortably, in succession.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then if we look at his form at the Tour de France and the margin he had on his competitors, so naturally, the level of competition at the Vuelta will be a little bit below that of the Tour de France, and so I don&#8217;t necessarily think there&#8217;s anything that we&#8217;re looking for in terms of any spectacular revelation or performance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Rather, I think it&#8217;s more a matter of getting the job done.&#8221; Which, given Poga\u010dar&#8217;s track record, can only mean one result in four weeks time in Granada.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a42a19c-9a52-11f1-8a5f-a545b5bc9f5b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Unstoppable? The five biggest challenges that Tadej Poga\u010dar will face at this year&#8217;s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar and UAE Team Emirates meet to discuss and decide on targeting Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;This is the best year for Tadej Poga\u010dar to come&#8217;\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a director confident in Tour de France champion&#8217;s participation, with little concern over likely dominance<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar confirmed for first return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a since 2019 Grand Tour debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L7jVF4Xg8bmwqFk9LoQQWc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Transfers<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Abel Balderstone breaks contract to join UAE Team Emirates-XRG<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Last chance saloon \u2013 The riders and teams who need to turn their season around at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2FQ6FExGKN4uEMipgv9oG3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Fundraiser for Finlay Tarling doubles its target as donations flow in<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HghRJP9JjYvNXgXBVhkq6h-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Bob Jungels calls time on 15-year professional cycling career to take on new business venture<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QL4TfcDkAYHJLFp34Pqnma-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I think my season&#8217;s over&#8217; &#8211; Lucas Bourgoyne misses momentum at American Criterium Cup with appendectomy<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZWLJj9gfmCjg62TMpCFt2d-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Quinn Simmons, Luke Lamperti, Maggie Coles-Lyster and Kristen Faulkner among WorldTour riders confirmed for Philadelphia Cycling Classic<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Features<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YzNZ46ofevTyGMxGmJDE5Y-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Last chance saloon \u2013 The riders and teams who need to turn their season around at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NJ4BiB5vR77FkK9byLB3pN-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Used bibs, \u00a32 jerseys, and fake Rapha wares \u2013 Inside the wild west of buying second-hand cycling kit<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/didDWkuxCx3NhnzuvisdbR-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;The Leadville nobody knew&#8217; \u2013 Revised course eliminates final &#8216;gut punch&#8217; of Powerline climb but Columbine and elevation keep you humble<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-600-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-600-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n5gj2MP4YAPCy7FjmBPdZE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Cycling Kit &amp; Accessories<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Rapha Summer Sale now has as much as 60% off \u2013 but you&#8217;ll have to be quick to grab the &#8216;Final Markdown&#8217; discounts<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iDxxugHuxR2SBQoRy8dTh6-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Doping<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;AI could reverse cycling 2.0&#8217;s gains&#8217; \u2013 Why artificial intelligence could become an anti-doping scientist&#8217;s worst nightmare<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/dkNBfv8UpN2da7mxUPFFNn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A once-in-a-career kind of thing&#8217; \u2013 A year on from a stunning victory, Canada&#8217;s top women riders look ahead to &#8216;special&#8217; home Road World Championships<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8JgxTxPjmbagSKAfvL2u5a-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>SD Worx-Protime keep attacks in check and navigate narrow roads to prevail on opening stage at Tour of Britain Women<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;AI could reverse cycling 2.0&#8217;s gains&#8217; \u2013 Why artificial intelligence could become an anti-doping scientist&#8217;s worst nightmare<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Renewi Tour: Jonathan Milan edges out Olav Kooij in photo finish to win a messy opening stage<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour du Limousin: Ewen Costiou takes the overall lead after a solo stage 2 victory<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tour of Britain Women: Lorena Wiebes snatches sprint victory on stage 1 ahead of Chiara Consonni<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nUAE Team Emirates-XRG\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTadej Pogacar\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;The Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej&#8217; \u2013 UAE performance head warns that nobody, not even Poga\u010dar, will have it easy this summer in Spain<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>Features<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-19T06:48:10Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n19 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Performance head Jeroen Swart discusses build-up and possible race strategies for Slovenian in fight for first-ever victory in Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b\">Such is Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s success rate that nobody expects anything but victory these days \u2013 and since early 2024, there&#8217;s been little reason to change that particular mantra in cycling.<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back wins in three Grand Tours, two of them the Tour de France and one the Giro d&#8217;Italia, not to mention eight Monuments and two World Championships within that time span alone, do tend to have that effect. And when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, even if he hasn&#8217;t tackled it since 2019, we are expecting an identical scenario of total domination along the roads of Monaco, France, Andorra and, finally, Spain this August and September.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429cba-9a52-11f1-aba0-29d8e20e513b-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, given we&#8217;re looking at the toughest Vuelta route in recent history, with over 58,000 metres of elevation gain, nobody can take anything for granted, UAE Team Emirates-XRG head of performance Jeroen Swart warns. And that goes for Poga\u010dar as much as for anyone else.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773404e2-9b20-11f1-87d6-a7145e25ba5e\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7734055a-9b20-11f1-b115-05d9a3b1456a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the plus side for Poga\u010dar, Swart says, the key element for success at a relatively late point in the season, though, pivots on motivation, rather than straight physical strength, as might be more the case in, say, the Giro d&#8217;Italia.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">In the case of the 27-year-old Slovenian star, there are plenty of reasons to want to fight hard for the right to wear <em>la roja <\/em>in the shadow of the Alhambra palace in Granada in just under a month&#8217;s time. But arguably even more to the point, Poga\u010dar&#8217;s preparation and race program have been meticulously channelled throughout 2027 to ensure he&#8217;s in the ideal place, mentally, to do that.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2fmbtXZ2fEd6EkmEtQgkd3-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Unstoppable? The five biggest challenges that Tadej Poga\u010dar will face at this year&#8217;s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s2mu99cSc9cQb8sSAxSoJR-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Tadej keeps on surprising us&#8217; \u2013 The inside view on how UAE Team Emirates-XRG have constructed Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s assault on a fifth Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vXx3fTTYeYfvhBsZ8FoUhF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">That is why, Swart explains, whilst the training program since May was built for Poga\u010dar to peak at the Tour, the race program was designed to try to keep the Slovenian fresh and keen to compete as deep into the season as possible. That&#8217;s not just in the late-season one-day races \u2013 as he has done plenty of times in previous years \u2013 but also, for the first time in his career, in late summer Grand Tour stage races like the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;His physical preparation was focused on July, as it should be, in that sense the Vuelta comes simply as an add-on,&#8221; Swart told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> during the countdown to the Spanish Grand Tour.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-AByGQ8LK8zYHWUcYzrvBEF slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429dfa-9a52-11f1-a16a-49a83df61d7c\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/489y8igiHmrRGG5NVdHDoD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">2024 Giro d&#8217;Italia stage 2: Tadej Poga\u010dar celebrates the victory <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429e72-9a52-11f1-bf14-9b5a78d267a6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not necessarily something that would dictate the training prior to the Tour. But the race calendar was by design, it was always aimed at giving him the mental freshness to be able to do the Vuelta if he decided that he definitely wanted to do it, after he&#8217;d finished the Tour.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The calendar definitely took into account the potential of doing the Vuelta and would have been purposefully less arduous to keep him mentally fresh and interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar&#8217;s previous experience of doing a double Grand Tour between the Giro d&#8217;Italia and Tour de France (winning both in 2024) proved very useful in what was and what wasn&#8217;t repeated between the Tour and Vuelta, Swart says.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PUEEi2WzDZNWhsdyiYZCF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar and UAE Team Emirates meet to discuss and decide on targeting Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/9aKuFwnmwjqsdAucGVxeU3-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;This is the best year for Tadej Poga\u010dar to come&#8217;\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a director confident in Tour de France champion&#8217;s participation, with little concern over likely dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uxQp5fRzS4VxGsyfPN95CJ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Tadej Poga\u010dar confirmed for first return to Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a since 2019 Grand Tour debut<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">On the one side, the goal between Paris on July 19 and Monaco on August 22 was simply recovering and maintaining form. But on the other, the option of taking on another altitude camp, in what would have been a repeat of what Poga\u010dar did in 2024 at Isola 2000 after winning the Giro and before heading to the Tour, was not considered.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;There&#8217;s not a lot of time, so there&#8217;s not a lot you can do, it&#8217;s pretty straightforward,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;But we omitted the altitude training.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a cognitive effort to be away and do that, and we&#8217;re later in the year. When you talk about the transition from Giro to Tour, it&#8217;s still early, there&#8217;s more freshness. At this point in the season, you know you want him to be just recovering both mentally and physically. At a camp, there&#8217;s that mental effort required as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"getting-the-job-done-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Getting the job done<\/h2>\n<p id=\"elk-4a429f58-9a52-11f1-a985-1328c88dad9a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Ever since it moved to 1995 from its previous spring slot to September, the Vuelta has been a race where it&#8217;s often easy to perceive how among an often glittering start list of stars, there is a real mix between those present out of obligation, and those who are actually keen to compete.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Curiously enough, the previous five-time Tour de France winner, Miguel Indurain was a case in point. All but told by his team that he had to race the Vuelta in 1996, Indurain&#8217;s enthusiasm for taking part that summer in his home race was minimal and he ended up abandoning, prior to quitting the sport altogether at the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Poga\u010dar, on the other hand, is in a very different place to that and if he&#8217;s racing, it&#8217;s because he wants to. So we&#8217;re lightyears away from the Indurain scenario, or even the much less dramatic situation post-Tour for Poga\u010dar in 2025 when he only opted out of racing the Vuelta for certain after he&#8217;d won in July.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">But in any case, the mental side of things and simply wanting to be there, Swart agrees, is what matters the most when it comes to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, and historically that&#8217;s as true for Poga\u010dar as it is for anybody else.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It definitely is. Tadej&#8217;s physical ability is unmatched, and so it&#8217;s important for him to stay motivated. And interested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">When various reasons for that interest are put to Swart, like Poga\u010dar not having won the Vuelta before, the fact that it would see him take the &#8216;triple crown&#8217; of Grand Tours, and also &#8220;simply because he&#8217;s competitive and winning is what he likes&#8221;, Swart answers immediately .&#8221;Everything you&#8217;ve just said.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He last did the Vuelta in 2019, he hasn&#8217;t won it, winning would give him that triple crown and that&#8217;s definitely a big motivator as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-773405e6-9b20-11f1-b9ee-efed4ba30246\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YnVPYaHPQSrGkQZT6CzMwf-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar won his first Grand Tour stage at the Vuelta in 2019 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-7734065e-9b20-11f1-86f4-cdd5f032df7d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for the fact it&#8217;s starting in Monaco, where Poga\u010dar lives during the season, Swart says that he&#8217;s not aware that it was a factor that influenced the UAE leader&#8217;s decision to do it this year. &#8220;But,&#8221; as he adds, &#8220;it certainly helps.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Then there&#8217;s the route. The format of the Vuelta, with major mountains early on on stage 4 in Andorra, is remarkably similar both to the Giro and the Tour in 2024, with a lot of high mountain stages in the first week, as well as the Tour in 2023, which went into the Pyrenees soon after the start in Bilbao.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fancy-box kiosq-b\" id=\"elk-773406c2-9b20-11f1-a572-05c4425360c7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"fancy_box-title\">More on Vuelta<\/div>\n<div class=\"fancy_box_body\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gravel, time trials and the &#8216;Angliru of the south&#8217; \u2013 The five key stages that will decide the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-77340730-9b20-11f1-b7a6-4fe8e1a2a3db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Swart points out that the nature of the 2026 Vuelta route means it would be ideal for Poga\u010dar to hit the ground running \u2013 and that&#8217;s something he&#8217;s done before to devastating effect in the three previous Grand Tours. But at the same time, he cautions that the extreme difficulty of the Vuelta is something that they&#8217;ve thought about and tried to factor in as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">It&#8217;s not that UAE fear the toughness of the Vuelta could have a knock-on effect into 2027 (although interestingly, back in the day, racing so deep for so long into the autumn used to make the Vuelta a favoured option for Classics riders wanting a good base for the first half of the following one-day season). Rather, the idea that he could ease off a little in the third week with a view to being in top condition in the World Championships and above all, fresher, is definitely on the minds of the UAE management.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This Vuelta is just full on all the way through,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;In some ways, that is helpful because it&#8217;s decisive very soon and a GC lead can be built steadily and early on as well.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But the Vuelta is going to be arduous, even for Tadej and especially after doing the Tour. It&#8217;s a hard and a long race.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;ll have an effect on him going into 2027. Following the World Championships he&#8217;ll get to his end of the season, I&#8217;m sure and recover more than adequately so I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a concern, really.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;However, obviously, you have to see how the race unfolds, I&#8217;m sure if you&#8217;re looking at\u2026.starting with the TT and stage 4 already, it could be very decisive in terms of the GC.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So I think it&#8217;s one of those situations where the second half of the race may be an opportunity to be a bit more conservative and then save himself for those other goals. That would be an intelligent way to do things. We&#8217;ll have to see how it unfolds, but that would definitely be a factor.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4a429fc6-9a52-11f1-8af1-b995d424fbd6\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar finished on the podium in 2019, but will settle for nothing less than the top step this year <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-773407a8-9b20-11f1-acdd-071e4c8c4753\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">From a purely scientific, performance point of view, the Vuelta is not, Swart says, one of excessive interest. As Swart sees it, the margin Poga\u010dar needs to have on his rivals, given the the level of competition, is not as high, means this is a race with a very specific objective, and where the main goal is to sign off with the right result in Poga\u010dar&#8217;s palmar\u00e8s.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s going to be anything that&#8217;s a revelation,&#8221; Swart says. &#8220;I think Tadej has already proven that he can do two grand Tours, comfortably, in succession.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Then if we look at his form at the Tour de France and the margin he had on his competitors, so naturally, the level of competition at the Vuelta will be a little bit below that of the Tour de France, and so I don&#8217;t necessarily think there&#8217;s anything that we&#8217;re looking for in terms of any spectacular revelation or performance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Rather, I think it&#8217;s more a matter of getting the job done.&#8221; Which, given Poga\u010dar&#8217;s track record, can only mean one result in four weeks time in Granada.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-4a42a19c-9a52-11f1-8a5f-a545b5bc9f5b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You&#8217;ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/the-vuelta-is-going-to-be-arduous-even-for-tadej-uae-performance-head-warns-that-nobody-not-even-pogacar-will-have-it-easy-this-summer-in-spain\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RYRVZWgnMPtkJpKSpDzPYU-1024-80.jpghttps:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4iaTjHxKsjcvdLnQgu9dV4-2560-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 Tadej Poga\u010dar vs the rest \u2013 Our analysis of the top 10 contenders at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a 2 Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d expected to race the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a but with no GC ambitions 3 Gravel, time trials and the &#8216;Angliru of the south&#8217; \u2013 The five key stages that will decide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2101665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2101665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2101665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2101665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2101665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}