6
Tadej Pogacar is heading back to La Vuelta a Espaa. UAE Team Emirates has confirmed their strong lineup for the upcoming 81st edition of the race, which runs from August 22 to September 13, 2026. This 21-stage Grand Tour will begin in Monaco and finish in the historic Spanish city of Granada. Pogacar will lead a formidable UAE Team Emirates squad as he attempts to complete a rare Grand Tour triple in a single season after winning the Tour de France 2026.
“I’m excited to say I’m going back to La Vuelta. It was my first-ever Grand Tour back in 2019 and an amazing experience,” Pogacar, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 shared following the team announcement.
“The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way and the Vuelta will be a big target. The team is strong and we hope to do good things.”
When and where does La Vuelta 2026 take place?
The Vuelta a Espana 2026 features a total of 3,283.7 kilometres and 58,156 metres of elevation gain across the 21 stages. The race will travel through four countries: Monaco, France, Andorra, and Spain.
The Grand Depart festivities will begin in Monaco with the official team presentation on Thursday, August 20. The racing will start on Saturday, August 22, with a technical 9km individual time trial through the streets of Monaco, starting at the Place du Casino and finishing on the Formula 1 circuit. Stage 2 will also depart from Monaco before heading into France. Over three weeks, the riders will tackle brutal mountain stages and extreme heat before the final stage arrives in Granada on September 13.
UAE Team Emirates squad for La Vuelta 2026:
UAE Team Emirates has assembled a competitive eight-man squad to support Pogacar’s ambitions:
- Joao Almeida
- Domen Novak
- Ivo Oliveira
- Tadej Pogacar
- Pavel Sivakov
- Pablo Torres
- Kevin Vermaerke
- Jay Vine
La Vuelta 2026: Interesting Facts To Know
Grand Tour Triple Attempt: If Pogacar wins, he will join an elite group of only three riders to have won the Tour and Vuelta in the same year: Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, and Chris Froome.
Historic Start: Monaco makes history as the first city to host the start of the first stage in all three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España).
New Challenges: The route features unprecedented climbs, including the Collado del Alguacil on Stage 20, which boasts steep sections with gradients reaching up to 20%.