Pogacar to Skip Vuelta, Prioritizes Rest and World Championship Defense

Tadej Pogacar, fresh off his fourth Tour de France victory, has announced he will not participate in the Vuelta a Espana this year. The Slovenian rider, representing UAE Team Emirates XRG, secured his latest Tour title after a dominant three-week performance. He acknowledged that fatigue became a factor in the final stages of the race.

Following his demanding Tour de France campaign, Pogacar and his team have decided that a period of rest is the most appropriate course of action. He expressed his fondness for the Vuelta, recalling positive experiences from his 2019 participation. However, he emphasized that his body is signaling the need for recovery.

Pogacar's competitive schedule will resume in September with the one-day races in Quebec and Montreal. His focus will then shift to the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, where he is the reigning champion. He is looking forward to returning to Canada, where he enjoys the challenging and scenic races that suit his racing style. He aims to be in top form for the latter part of the season, particularly for the World Championships.