Tadej Pogačar, fresh off his fourth Tour de France victory, will skip the upcoming Vuelta a españa to prioritize rest and planning for his remaining season goals. The decision, confirmed by his UAE Team Emirates-XRG, marks a strategic shift after a demanding tour that saw him secure his latest Grand Tour title.
Pogačar, who has established himself as one of cycling’s dominant figures, expressed the need for a break following the rigorous three-week Tour de France. “After such a demanding tour,we decided that it was best to take a break,” pogačar stated. “The return is, of course, a race that I would love to return. I have fantastic memories of 2019 (it was third),but now the body tells me to rest.”
The Slovenian star was not included in the eight-man roster for the Vuelta a España, which is set to commence on August 23. The team will instead be led by João Almeida, who recently withdrew from the Tour de France due to a fractured rib, and Spaniard Juan Ayuso.
This decision comes after Pogačar achieved a remarkable double last year, winning both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. He had initially considered participating in both the Tour and the vuelta this summer.
Matxin Fernández, the team’s sports director, elaborated on the decision, stating, “The idea this year was for Tadej to return to the return, but the season has been long for him. We talk and remember that the best thing for him now is to take a good break and prepare for his final goals.”
The current season has been a testament to Pogačar’s versatility and relentless pursuit of victory. Beyond his latest Tour de France triumph, he has also claimed victories in the Critérium du Dauphiné, Liège-Bastogne-liège, La Flèche Wallonne, and the Strade Bianche.
During his accomplished Tour de France campaign, Pogačar secured four stage wins, bringing his total stage victories in the Tour to 21. His overall career tally of notable race wins now stands at 30, including six stages in the Giro d’Italia and three in the Vuelta a España.He is now aiming to join the elite group of cyclists who have won the Tour de France five times,a feat previously achieved by Eddy Merckx,Miguel Induráin,Jacques Anquetil,and Bernard Hinault.
Pogačar is scheduled to take a break until September, with his next planned competitions being the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal in North America. “I am excited to return to Canada. The races are hard but beautiful, and they adapt well to my style,” Pogačar commented. He also expressed his ambition to defend his world champion title later this year in Kigali, Rwanda. “My goal will be to compete well for that part of the season and especially for world championships.”
