Pogačar-Vuelta speculation hits a peak
Ever since Vuelta a España organizers unveiled a 2026 route that dropped the Grand Depart in Monaco, there's been speculation that Tadej Pogačar might target the Spanish Grand Tour once his Tour de France defense wraps up.
Pogačar, now comfortably in yellow heading toward the race's second rest day, hasn't directly confirmed or denied the rumors, but offered a big hint on Friday after stage 13. That morning, Monaco's Prince Albert told assembled media at the start in Dole that he hoped Pogačar would race the Vuelta. Asked about the monarch's comments post-stage, Pogačar told Eurosport, "Well, if the prince said, then it’s a high chance."
The Vuelta remains the last Grand Tour Pogačar has not won. He took three stages and finished third overall in his first and so far only attempt, in 2019. (That third place remains his lowest-ever finish in a Grand Tour, by the way.) Adding the Vuelta would make Pogačar just the ninth men's rider ever to win all three Grand Tours in a career. Jonas Vingegaard became the eighth earlier this season when he won the Giro d'Italia.
