Madrid, Aug. 21 -- Tadej Pogacar will be the overwhelming favorite when the 2026 Vueltaa Espana begins in Monaco on Saturday, as the Slovenian seeks to complete his collection of cycling's three Grand Tours.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has not competed in the Vuelta since announcing himself on the world stage with a third-place finish in 2019. He has since won the Tour de France five times and the Giro d'Italia, leaving the Vuelta as the only Grand Tour missing from his palmares.
Pogacar arrives in Spain after claiming his fifth Tour de France title in July and will be backed by another powerful UAE lineup that includes Joao Almeida, runner-up in last year's Vuelta.
Heat could play a significant role in this year's race, with the rou...