Tadej Pogacar targets Grand Tour triple at Vuelta a España

The 81st edition of the Vuelta a España is set to begin this Saturday in Monaco, featuring a 9.4-kilometer individual time trial. The race spans 3,275 kilometers over 21 stages, traversing Monaco, France, Andorra, and Spain, before concluding in Granada on September 13. This edition is noted for its extreme difficulty, including 58,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain and seven high-mountain finishes.

Tadej Pogacar, the five-time Tour de France champion, enters as the heavy favorite. He seeks to become only the ninth rider in history to win all three Grand Tours. His primary competition includes four-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič, who is returning following a recent accident, and Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz, who is coming off a strong Tour de France performance.

Other notable contenders include Enric Mas of Movistar Team, Mattias Skjelmose, and Felix Gall. Movistar Team director Eusebio Unzué has indicated a focus on stage wins and general classification competitiveness, despite the absence of Nairo Quintana. The race will be broadcast internationally via various platforms including Eurosport, HBO Max, and RTVE.