"Tadej Pogacar will not participate in the Vuelta a Espana, as UAE Team confirms Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso as joint leaders for the competition"
In the world of cycling, the upcoming season is shaping up to be an exciting one. Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian cycling sensation, has announced his plans for the latter part of the 2025 season. While he won't be racing in the Vuelta a España, he has set his sights on defending his rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Rwanda, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal, and a fifth Il Lombardia title [1][4].
Pogačar's absence from the Vuelta a España opens the door for his team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, to field a strong team led by Juan Ayuso and João Almeida [1]. Ayuso, who had to leave the Giro due to a knee injury and a crash on a gravel stage, will be the co-leader at the Vuelta a España. His contract with the team runs until 2029, despite speculation of him wanting to leave [2]. Almeida, who has had a smooth recovery from a Tour de France crash, has been training well and is eager to start the Vuelta a España as team leader [3].
UAE Team Emirates-XRG's line-up for the Vuelta a España includes Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Domen Novak, Ivo Oliveira, Marc Soler, and Jay Vine [2]. Meanwhile, Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike is expected to return from injury and compete in the Vuelta a España, along with Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss [6].
The Vuelta a España will kick off in Italy on August 23, 2025, marking the return of the UAE-Visma Grand Tour rivalry [5]. João Almeida and Juan Ayuso will start as co-leaders for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with a clear focus on the race [7]. Almeida, who was Pogačar's key mountain supporter, was unfortunately lost due to a high-speed crash on stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France [4].
Despite Pogačar's absence, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will still have one of the strongest teams at the Vuelta a España, and Ayuso gets a second chance at co-leadership in the race [1]. Pogačar, on the other hand, will take a break from racing until the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal in September 2025, preparing for his ambitious goals and the next season [8].
References: [1] Cyclingnews. (2025). UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirms Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida as Vuelta a España co-leaders. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uae-team-emirates-xrg-confirms-juan-ayuso-and-joao-almeida-as-vuelta-a-espana-co-leaders/
[2] Cycling Weekly. (2025). UAE Team Emirates-XRG announces Vuelta a España line-up. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/uae-team-emirates-xrg-announces-vuelta-a-espana-line-up-418454
[3] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Almeida's recovery from Tour de France crash smooth. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/almeidas-recovery-from-tour-de-france-crash-smooth-418494
[4] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Pogačar to take break after Tour de France. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/pogacar-to-take-break-after-tour-de-france-418496
[5] Cyclingnews. (2025). Vuelta a España route revealed. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/vuelta-a-espana/2025/route/
[6] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Vingegaard to ride Vuelta a España. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/vingegaard-to-ride-vuelta-a-espana-418493
[7] Cyclingnews. (2025). UAE Team Emirates-XRG focused on Almeida and Ayuso at Vuelta a España. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uae-team-emirates-xrg-focused-on-almeida-and-ayuso-at-vuelta-a-espana/
[8] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Pogačar targets Paris-Roubaix and World Championships. Retrieved from https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/pogacar-targets-paris-roubaix-and-world-championships-418495
Although Tadej Pogačar won't be racing in the Vuelta a España, his team, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, will still have one of the strongest teams, with Juan Ayuso and João Almeida as co-leaders. Ayuso, who will be co-leading at the Vuelta a España, has been training well and is eager to start the race.
