La Vuelta 2026 ***Spoilers***

[Dogtrousers]

Pog took the pink jersey on stage 2 of the Giro and held it all the way after that. Can he go one better this time? First stage is a 10k prologue type TT. I wouldn't put it past him.

I just had a look at the start preliminary list. https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2026/startlist

Random thoughts.

Primoz - as mentioned above he's had his preparation messed up by being hit by a car
Guillaume Martin is there. Surely that should be the main headline news. Never mind Pog.
Matthew Brennan. He's been ill hasn't he?
Steven Kruijswijk. Another one of those riders that I thought had retired.
NAIRO! NAIRO! NAIRO!
Skjelmose and Pedersen for Lidl Trek
Jarno Widar was second to Seixas in last years tour de l'Avenir and ...
Jorgen Nordhagen was third

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I'm sure Vin will recover from his TDF crash and will be chomping at the bit to beat Pog in Spain.

 

[mjr]

Short memory: JV in '23?
Google also remembers KAS in '66.

Of course! I thought it had been done, but the book I pulled off the shelf is pre-2020, and I now notice also doesn't list the full podiums of the Vuelta before 1973.

 

[phreak]

Short memory: JV in '23?
Google also remembers KAS in '66.

Presumably Pogacar won't be letting Vine get several minutes early on.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Presumably Pogacar won't be letting Vine get several minutes early on.

Can you imagine? Probably explains why they're not taking Christen.

 

[Animo]

Going to be on holiday where stage 19 starts. Look forward to my selfies with Pog.

 

[Pross]

He's had one for a while
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/should-primož-roglic-swallow-his-pride-and-retire.303058/

I wouldn't rule him out either: is Almeida not having an anus horribilius?

The mas y mas I think about it, Movistar might be in with a chance.

Too much time sat on a bike saddle will do that.

 

[Pross]

UAE confirm that Pog is riding

I can see one or two of the UAE support riders who were hoping for their chance being a bit peeved. Maybe there’ll be a Sep Kuss moment.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I can see one or two of the UAE support riders who were hoping for their chance being a bit peeved. Maybe there’ll be a Sep Kuss moment.

I'm sure uncle Taddy will engineer a stage win or two for them.

 

[tarric]

Heading over next week, going to spend around 10 days traveling through France and will be parked up somewhere on the final climb on stage 3 then going to spend the 3 weeks following the race. Not every stage but I have booked Granada for the final day.

 

[Pblakeney]

I can see one or two of the UAE support riders who were hoping for their chance being a bit peeved. Maybe there’ll be a Sep Kuss moment.

Giving Sep a stage was nice. Giving him minutes caused issues.
I doubt Tadej would be that silly.

 

[tarric]

I'm quite surprised that he's going to the Vuelta, I thought he would be concentrating on the worlds and going for three in a row. Going to Canada for the Quebec and Montreal races seeing as the Montreal one is a revised route making it a dress rehearsals for the worlds.

 

[T4tomo]

Pog took the pink jersey on stage 2 of the Giro and held it all the way after that. Can he go one better this time? First stage is a 10k prologue type TT. I wouldn't put it past him.

I just had a look at the start preliminary list. https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/vuelta-a-espana/2026/startlist

Random thoughts.

Primoz - as mentioned above he's had his preparation messed up by being hit by a car
Guillaume Martin is there. Surely that should be the main headline news. Never mind Pog.
Matthew Brennan. He's been ill hasn't he?
Steven Kruijswijk. Another one of those riders that I thought had retired.
NAIRO! NAIRO! NAIRO!
Skjelmose and Pedersen for Lidl Trek
Jarno Widar was second to Seixas in last years tour de l'Avenir and ...
Jorgen Nordhagen was third

still a lot to declare.

Felix Gall should be in with a shout of another GT 2nd place I'd have thought.

Visma yet to nominate a GC contender, but look strong for sprint stages with Brennan and WVA

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've got my Velogames team locked in already: Nine Nairos.

 

[stage hunter]

I'm quite surprised that he's going to the Vuelta, I thought he would be concentrating on the worlds and going for three in a row. Going to Canada for the Quebec and Montreal races seeing as the Montreal one is a revised route making it a dress rehearsals for the worlds.

He may never have a better chance at the Vuelta. Whilst the world’s course looks made for him, it’s not the gimme that 2024 was. Classics guys can certainly challenge there.

If Pog wins the Vuelta, we we will be going into 2027 with not having a new GT winner for 4 years. For context, in the rest of the century, no new GT winner only happened in 2003, 2005, 2016 & 2021. And (I think) it will now have happened for 3 years running.