Pogačar at the Vuelta? The race director is optimistic.

With 23 days to go until the start of the Vuelta a España , with the grand start set for Monaco, the hottest name on the fantasy cycling market is still shrouded in mystery: will Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) race the Spanish race or not? The rumors are becoming increasingly insistent, and the Vuelta director is doing nothing to quell them.

Pogačar made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a few years ago, finishing third overall and winning three stages in what was his explosive entrance onto the world stage. Since then, he's won five Tours de France, one Giro d'Italia, and virtually every other major classic and stage race on the international calendar. Only the Vuelta is missing to complete the list.

His great rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) has already completed his three Grand Tours by winning the Giro d'Italia in May. And now Vuelta director Javier Guillén is convinced that this is the right year for the Slovenian as well. "We hope so," Guillén told Spanish newspaper AS when asked directly if Pogačar will be at the start. "The latest information we have comes from Prince Albert. The rider would like to come. Once the Tour is over, he will evaluate whether he feels strong, motivated, and in good condition. Because if Tadej Pogačar comes to the Vuelta, he comes to win it; he wouldn't come any other way."

"As the director of the Vuelta, I'm very optimistic that he can come. All the best conditions are in place. It's a Tour that has worked well for him in terms of effort. I think the Vuelta is very well positioned at the moment, given its distance from the Tour."

And again: "The stages are very suitable for him to put on the show that distinguishes him. Furthermore, coming to the Vuelta to win it is also an excellent springboard to repeat his victory as world champion in Canada. So, this is the best time for Tadej to come."

Twelve months ago, the UAE ruled out Pogačar's participation in the 2025 Vuelta a España, opting to rest ahead of the World Championships in Rwanda, where the Slovenian had won his second consecutive Iriota jersey. This year, the situation seems different. The rumor became even more concrete during the recently concluded Tour, when Prince Albert of Monaco told L'Equipe : "Tadej Pogačar said he would be at the start, so we'll see."

Asked after the Tour, Pogačar neither confirmed nor denied: "Right now, if the Vuelta started tomorrow, I'd say no, but I can still decide in two weeks." An open door, in short. UAE Sports Manager Joxean Fernández Matxin also didn't close the matter, telling Marca : "Now is the time to enjoy what we've achieved after three weeks of hard work." Pogačar's agent, Alex Carera, meanwhile revealed to Sky Italia that "the UAE management and coach Javier Sola have scheduled a meeting with Tadej on Tuesday to decide."

According to Gazzetta dello Sport , the decision has already been made: Pogačar will ride the Vuelta. All that's missing is the official team announcement, which will likely come after this weekend's Pogi Challenge charity event and next week's Tour de France Femmes, where Pogačar will almost certainly be there to support his teammate Urška Žigart .

Implications for fantasy cycling: If Pogačar were to confirm his participation, he would be the clear favorite for the red jersey, ahead of compatriot Primož Roglič and Giro runner-up Felix Gall . A victory would make him the ninth rider in history to win all three Grand Tours. For fantasy cycling, betting on him is almost a given, but the real value will lie in identifying potential GC climbers and breakaway riders who could score valuable points against an opponent of his caliber.

Guillén himself makes no secret of his spectacular ambitions: "We want to see Pogačar at the Vuelta. From there, I always say the same thing: we need Tadej Pogačar, yes, but we also need his rivals to be of a high enough level to make things difficult for him. I think we'll have them. The excitement for me is for him to come and do what he knows how to do, which is win, and for others to make it difficult for him. And if not, we'll all try to find challenges for Pogačar so he can enjoy the Vuelta."

The director dreams of seeing the Slovenian on the final podium in Granada, after which he would have exactly two weeks to prepare for the World Championships in Montreal, where he would be aiming for a third consecutive world title—a feat achieved only by Peter Sagan in the history of the men's elite road race. "If he wins, he will complete what he already is: a legend of the sport. He will have all three Grand Tours; there will be very little left to win, but certainly joining that club is something his track record demands," Guillén concluded.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency