Fresh from his fifth Tour de France win, the Slovenian rider returns to the Spanish Grand Tour seven years

Tadej Pogačar to Race in Vuelta a España

UAE Team Emirates has confirmed that Tadej Pogačar will compete in the Vuelta a España, which starts on 22 August in Monaco. The race reaches Andorra on the fourth stage, a full day of competition on 25 August with start and finish in Andorra la Vella.

Pogačar, fresh from his fifth Tour de France victory, had initially planned to skip the Vuelta for Canadian classics and the World Championships in Montreal. The event, running until 13 September, was not on his calendar at first. However, reports now place the Slovenian, who lives in Monaco, at the Grand Depart.

The five-time Tour winner and Giro d'Italia champion seeks his first Vuelta title, completing the set of all three Grand Tours. He last raced it in 2019, finishing third overall at age 20 behind Primoz Roglic and Alejandro Valverde. That year, he claimed his maiden Grand Tour stage win in bad weather at Cortals d'Encamp, one of three partial victories.

Andorra holds strong memories for Pogačar. He wore the yellow jersey into Andorra la Vella during the 2021 Tour de France stage, which he ultimately won, and visited last year for the Andorra Cycling Masters.

Stage Details in Andorra

The 25 August stage begins and ends at Avinguda Tarragona in Andorra la Vella, heading uphill just before the Marginets roundabout near the bus stop—the same finish as the 2021 Tour stage won by resident Sepp Kuss.

Riders start from the capital, following the neutralised CG-1 towards Escaldes-Engordany. The launched start comes at CG-2 near FEDA. The route climbs Port d'Envalira to Pas de la Casa, descends via Envalira tunnel to Encamp, tackles Collada de Beixalís towards Ordino and Coll d'Ordino, then faces the final challenge of Alt de la Comella from Escaldes-Engordany. It descends via Avinguda Borda Nova and CG-1 from Prada Casadet roundabout to the finish.

This marks Andorra la Vella's 13th Vuelta start and seventh stage finish, the most recent in 2017 at Carrer Prat de la Creu where Vincenzo Nibali prevailed. The Vuelta arrives after the previous day's finish in Font Romeu.

Strong Field Expected

Other confirmed leaders include Andorra residents Enric Mas (Movistar), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), and possibly Sepp Kuss, who raced the Tour and Giro this year. João Almeida or Marc Soler will lead UAE if needed, alongside Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), Matthew Riccitello and Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R), Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers), and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).