'After clinching a challenging Tour de France victory, Tadej Pogacar remains uncertain about his next racing endeavor'
In the final stretch of the 2025 Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar's sports director, Marco Marcato, hinted at the possibility of Pogačar aiming for a historic fourth Tour de France victory. However, it appears that Pogačar's immediate future in the world of cycling will not include the Vuelta a España.
UAE Team Emirates has confirmed that Pogačar will not participate in the Spanish Grand Tour, scheduled to start in Turin on 23 August. The decision comes after a demanding Tour de France, with Pogačar expressing his need for rest and recovery.
Initially, there was speculation that Pogačar might complete a Grand Tour set after his Giro d’Italia win in 2024. However, by late July 2025, it became clear that Pogačar's physical and mental fatigue from the Tour de France obliged him to skip the Vuelta.
Pogačar himself stated after the Tour that "the Vuelta is a race I love," but he emphasized, "my body needs rest." He also expressed his focus moving forward toward other goals such as Paris-Roubaix and taking a rest period before preparing for the next season.
Instead, teammates João Almeida and Juan Ayuso will lead UAE Team Emirates at the Vuelta. Ayuso, a Spanish rider, is especially motivated to perform well on home soil.
Despite the difficulty of Stage 20 of the Tour de France, Pogačar expressed enjoyment in the challenge. He described the stage as "miserable" due to the rain and difficulty, but also as a "punchy affair" with climbs of Montmartre that he found rewarding.
Pogačar's future racing schedule remains uncertain, with a potential break in his schedule being suggested. However, he mentioned that he might be on the bike as early as Tuesday, indicating a possible return to competition soon.
[1] Cycling News (2025). Tadej Pogačar to miss Vuelta a España 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tadej-pogacar-to-miss-vuelta-a-espana-2025/ [Accessed 1 August 2025].
[2] Velonews (2025). Tadej Pogačar decides to skip Vuelta a España 2025. [online] Available at: https://velonews.com/news/racing/tadej-pogacar-decides-to-skip-vuelta-a-espana-2025/ [Accessed 1 August 2025].
[3] The Guardian (2025). Tadej Pogačar pulls out of Vuelta a España 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/31/tadej-pogačar-pulls-out-of-vuelta-a-espana-2025 [Accessed 1 August 2025].
[4] Cycling Weekly (2025). Tadej Pogačar to miss Vuelta a España 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tadej-pogačar-to-miss-vuelta-a-espana-2025-1046516 [Accessed 1 August 2025].
[5] France24 (2025). Tadej Pogačar to miss Vuelta a España 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/sports/20250731-tadej-pogacar-to-miss-vuelta-a-espana-2025 [Accessed 1 August 2025].
Tadej Pogačar, in light of his demanding Tour de France performance, will not compete in the Vuelta a España, according to multiple news sources. Despite initially showing interest in a Grand Tour set, Pogačar prioritized rest and recovery, ruling out participation in the Spanish Grand Tour.
