World Champion Returns to Spain After Seven-Year Wait
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Look to Complete Tour de France–Vuelta a Espana Double
News | Team –20th August 2026
With the dust barely settled from the finale of the Tour de France, the spotlight now turns to Spain and the season's final Grand Tour, La Vuelta a España. Known for its brutal mountain stages and punishing terrain, the race will be the last great battleground of 2026, and UAE Team Emirates-XRG arrive with one clear objective: another Grand Tour win. Leading the charge will be none other than World Champion and five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar, who returns to Spain's Grand Tour for the first time since 2019.
Pogačar lines up on the start line in Monaco in blistering form and with sky-high expectations. After dominating the Tour de France in emphatic fashion, the Slovenian arrives in the form of his life. Now a five-time Yellow Jersey winner, Pogačar has set his sights on a first La Vuelta a España title.
Pogačar: "I'm excited to say I'm going back to La Vuelta. It was my first ever Grand Tour back in 2019 and an amazing experience. Spain is a country I love to visit and race in, and I think the time is right to go back.
"The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way and the Vuelta will be a big target. The team is strong and we hope to do good things."
Supporting Pogačar is a world-class UAE Team Emirates-XRG outfit, a well-balanced blend of experience, power, and climbing pedigree. Last year's La Vuelta runner-up Joao Almeida returns to the race after a turbulent 2026 season, eager to rediscover his best legs and prove crucial to Pogačar in the high mountains. Tour Down Under winner Jay Vine returns to the line-up to add further mountain support and guide his leader through the toughest of tests across the three weeks, while youngster Pablo Torres rounds out a strong climbing contingent within the squad.
Kevin Vermaerke and Pavel Sivakov arrive in Monaco ready to build on their solid form this season, providing support across the short, punchy climbs throughout the race. Ivo Oliveira and Domen Novak round out the squad, tasked with controlling breakaways and guiding the team across the valleys.
Victory never comes easily in the mountains of Spain. The battle for the Red Jersey is stacked with threats from across the peloton. Red Bull Bora-hansgrohe's Primož Roglič returns to Grand Tour racing after skipping Le Tour to focus purely on Spain. Hometown hero Mikel Landa leads Soudal Quick-Step into the race, ready to put on a show for the fans on his home roads. Rising talent Cian Uijtdebroeks leads Movistar after finding his pre-injury form, joined by veteran multiple Grand Tour winner Nairo Quintana as lead domestique.
The parcours promises fireworks. In the 81st edition of the race, the notorious Spanish mountains promise a merciless test for the entire peloton. The action begins in Monaco with a 9.4km individual time trial, before a hilly Stage 2 that will no doubt catch Pogačar's eye. The first major General Classification test arrives on Stage 7, as the peloton tackles a category two and category one climb back-to-back, with rivals keeping a keen eye on one another. Stage 9 brings another long, gruelling category one climb before the first rest day, offering a further chance for the GC riders to test each other.
As the final Grand Tour of the season approaches, Tadej Pogačar stands once again at the heart of the action, a Giro d'Italia and Tour de France champion with the final jewel of his Grand Tour crown in his sights. Backed by a powerful UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, he returns to racing ready to entertain and command the race. With the mountains looming and rivals ready to challenge, the quest for maiden red promises to be as fierce as ever. Three weeks. One goal. The fight for La Roja is about to begin.