Opinion: Tadej Pogačar must ride the Vuelta a España
Tadej Pogačar already conceded the Olympic Games and now there’s only one Grand Tour left to win – he must ride the Vuelta
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Dario Belingheri/Getty Images
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At the beginning of 2024, Tadej Pogačar made it clear that the Giro-Tour double was his year-long aim. Now he’s done it, the pressure’s off, but there’s still one Grand Tour left to win, and Pogačar could be the first ride ever to win all three in one season.
Currently, Pogačar is listed on the provisional startlist of the Québecois classics in mid-September, which will act as preparation for his bid at the official Triple Crown, which historically consists of the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championships road race.
But Pogačar needs to stop being the party pooper and go to the Vuelta a España. The history books are screaming out for it, and he’ll probably never have the chance again, he definitely won’t have a chance this good again.
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No Olympics, no excuse
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A.S.O./Charly Lopez
Following the Tour de France’s conclusion in Nice, Pogačar headed back to Slovenia for a homecoming party. There, he confirmed that he would not compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This decision came as a result of post-Tour fatigue as well as a distaste for the Slovenian team’s omission of his partner Urška Žigart (Liv-Jayco-AlUla) from their Paris 2024 selection.
With that decision out of the way, this seriously opens up the chance for Pogačar to target new summer goals. There’s none bigger and more exciting than the Vuelta a España.
The Vuelta is rarely at the top of GC riders’ minds. The Spanish Grand Tour often doesn’t require the same stringent altitude training as the two others. Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss went into the race last year on a whim after the Tour and ended up finishing in first and second place. Pogačar could likely get parachuted in at the last minute and still win.
Vuelta void of big stars
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A.S.O./Charly Lopez
At the time of writing, it looks as though the Vuelta is running low on big stars. Jonas Vingegaard has confirmed that he won’t make a return to the race and Primož Roglič‘s participation looks uncertain following worrying injury reports. Former Vuelta winner Remco Evenepoel has also implied that the Vuelta will not feature in his programme.
Instead, the GC field will be pinned down by Mikel Landa, Enric Mas and Sasha Vlasov. They’re lightweights if you ask me. Lots of these riders missed the mark or were injured at the recent Tour de France. Factor in the likes of Daní Martínez and Ben O’Connor from the Giro d’Italia, and Pogačar has a field of beatable opponents. Even defending champion Sepp Kuss isn’t a threat, he’s struggled this season and was a late withdrawal before the Tour due to Covid.
There are few A-list opponents standing between Pogačar and a third consecutive Grand Tour title. If anything, his own teammates João Almeida, Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates bring the sharpest opposition. They rode in support of the Slovenian at the Tour, but they should be on board to help secure this all-time feat.
For auld lang syne
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Chris Auld
Let’s be honest, when is Pogačar going to get the chance to chase all three Grand Tours again? The Giro-Tour looked impossible before 2024, and now he looks in a league of his own at stage races this year.
Now he’s won it he won’t ride the Giro again for a long time, so should make the most of this historic 2024 season while it’s still here. If he’s really looking to become the best cyclist of all time, then he should try his utmost to secure this achievement.
He’s currently putting out his best numbers, he’s riding up climbs faster than anyone before him, and that form hasn’t wavered since the Giro d’Italia, or even Strade Bianche in March where he began his racing calendar.
Riding the Vuelta shouldn’t place his World Championships dream in jeopardy either. If he thought that way, he wouldn’t have raced the Giro before the Tour.
Come on Tadej, do something
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Cyclist/Patrik Lundin
What’s there to lose, Tadej?
No one is going to take away the Giro-Tour double if he fails to win the Vuelta. No one will question his strength if he misses the mark, he has already claimed 12 Grand Tour stages this year and clinched both the maglia rosa and maillot jaune with ease. If he dared enough to do the Giro and the Tour, he should be bullish enough to push his luck and win them all.
This would be a full circle moment from Pogačar’s first big splash on the Grand Tour scene at the 2019 Vuelta where he secured a surprise third place. It’s almost a tale
too good to be true if he returns and wins it all.
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