Tadej Pogačar Returns to La Vuelta — and UAE Is Bringing a Team Built to Win

Seven years after La Vuelta introduced Tadej Pogačar to the wider cycling world, the Slovenian is coming back.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG has officially confirmed Pogačar for the 2026 Vuelta a España, where he will lead an exceptionally strong eight-rider squad alongside João Almeida, Jay Vine, Pavel Sivakov, Pablo Torres, Kevin Vermaerke, Domen Novak and Ivo Oliveira.

Pogačar's only previous appearance at La Vuelta came in 2019.

He was still a neo-professional then, but finished third overall and won three stages -- a performance that offered an early glimpse of the rider who would go on to dominate Grand Tour racing.

He returns in 2026 in a very different position.

Pogačar arrives as a five-time Tour de France winner after securing his latest yellow jersey in July, finishing 6:26 ahead of Remco Evenepoel.

La Vuelta is now the only Grand Tour he has not won.

The route gives UAE plenty of reasons for confidence. Two individual time trials reward Pogačar's ability against the clock, while repeated mountain stages provide numerous opportunities for the explosive accelerations that have become one of his defining strengths.

But the strength of UAE's squad may be just as important.

João Almeida gives the team another genuine general-classification option. Jay Vine and Pavel Sivakov add substantial climbing support, while the rest of the roster provides depth for a race in which controlling breakaways and protecting a leader over three weeks will be crucial.

That strength also creates tactical possibilities.

UAE will not necessarily have to wait for Pogačar to attack. Almeida can place pressure on rivals, Vine can become dangerous from a breakaway, and several teammates are capable of surviving deep into difficult mountain stages.

The biggest uncertainty may therefore concern the opposition.

Primož Roglič would offer one of the most compelling challenges if he starts, particularly given his record of four Vuelta victories. But his preparations have been disrupted and his participation remained uncertain in the final weeks before the race.

Whatever the final start list looks like, one fact is already clear.

For the first time since 2019, Tadej Pogačar is returning to La Vuelta.

This time he is not arriving to discover how good he might become.

He is arriving as the favourite -- and with the chance to complete his collection of Grand Tour victories.