Tadej Pogacar confirms Vuelta a Espana entry in Grand Tour sweep bid

Tadej Pogacar will return to the Vuelta a Espana on 22 August as he attempts to complete a career sweep of cycling’s Grand Tours.

The reigning Tour de France champion has been confirmed as the leader of the UAE Team Emirates squad for the Spanish race.

A victory would make the Slovenian only the ninth male rider in history to win the general classification at all three of cycling’s prestigious three-week races.

Targeting a historic treble

The 25-year-old has not competed in the Vuelta since announcing his arrival on the global stage with a third-place finish in 2019.

Having already secured the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France titles during a dominant 2024 campaign, securing the red jersey would cap an unprecedented season.

“I’m excited to say I’m going back to La Vuelta,” Pogacar said.

“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.”

Formidable support and fierce rivals

The 2024 edition of the race begins in Monaco, where the Giro champion currently resides, before crossing through France and Andorra.

The peloton will face a grueling route before the final stage concludes in Granada on 13 September.

UAE Team Emirates will provide powerful climbing support in the high mountains through Joao Almeida, Jay Vine and Pavel Sivakov.

Talented Spanish prospect Pablo Torres is also set to make his Grand Tour debut on home roads.

However, the formidable lineup will face stiff competition from a star-studded field.

Fellow countryman Primoz Roglic and Belgian powerhouse Wout van Aert are among the elite names scheduled to challenge for stage wins and the overall classification.