"Tadej Pogacar won't be participating in the Vuelta a Espana, as UAE Team announces Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso as their joint team leaders instead."
UAE Team Emirates-XRG to Compete Without Tadej Pogacar at the 2025 Vuelta a España
UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be competing in the 2025 Vuelta a España without their star rider, Tadej Pogacar. The team's decision comes after Pogacar's exceptional 2025 season, which saw him win major races such as the UAE Tour, Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Critérium du Dauphiné, and his fourth Tour de France title [2][3].
Pogacar's late-season goals are focused on one-day races like Paris-Roubaix and the World Championships, aiming to win the former after finishing second in his debut this year. The decision to rest him from the Vuelta was driven by the team's desire to provide "physical and mental breathing space" after the demands of this challenging season [2].
In his absence, Juan Ayuso and João Almeida will take the reins as co-leaders for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Ayuso, who had to leave the Giro due to a knee injury and a crash on the gravel stage, is excited about starting the Vuelta a España as team leader. His contract with the team runs until 2029 [4].
Almeida, Pogacar's key mountain supporter who was involved in a high-speed crash on stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France, will also be part of the squad. Both riders have proven themselves as GC contenders and complement each other well [5].
The Vuelta a España will feature the UAE-Visma Grand Tour rivalry, with Jonas Vingegaard, Matteo Jorgenson, and Sepp Kuss expected to ride for Visma-Lease a Bike. The race will begin in Italy on August 23, 2025 [6].
Pogacar is expected to return to racing in September, defending his rainbow jersey in Rwanda later in the month. He will take a break until the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal [7].
UAE Team Emirates-XRG will have one of the strongest teams at the Vuelta a España, with Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Domen Novak, Ivo Oliveira, Marc Soler, and Jay Vine also part of the squad [4].
References:
- Cycling News
- Cycling Weekly
- VeloNews
- Cycling Weekly
- Cycling News
- Cycling Weekly
- Cycling Weekly
Road cycling forms a significant part of the sports activities within UAE Team Emirates-XRG, as evidenced by their participation in various Grand Tours such as the Vuelta a España. The team's decision to compete in the 2025 Vuelta a España, despite the absence of Tadej Pogacar, underscores their commitment to the sport.
