Tadej Pogacar’s Absence Creates Opportunity for Jonas Vingegaard and Tom Pidcock to Shine

he 2025 Vuelta a Espana is shaping up to be the most competitive and entertaining Grand Tour of the year, with a talented field of riders vying for the coveted red jersey. While the absence of Tadej Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion, may have removed some of the pressure, it has also created a sense of opportunity for other top riders to make their mark.

Jonas Vingegaard, the 28-year-old Dane who has been Pogacar’s closest rival in recent years, is considered the favourite to win the race. He has a strong track record, having beaten Pogacar in the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023, and has shown that he has the endurance and tactical acumen to compete with the best. However, Vingegaard’s lung injuries from a harrowing crash last year may still be a concern, and he will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance to uphold his status as one of the world’s top riders.

Vingegaard’s experience in the mountains is one of his greatest strengths, and he has a reputation for being able to climb at a high pace over long distances. His team, Jumbo-Visma, has also been working hard to optimize his training and preparation for the Vuelta, and he will be supported by a strong squad of riders who will help to pace him and protect him in the mountains.

Another rider who could challenge for the red jersey is Tom Pidcock, the 26-year-old British cyclist who has been impressing this season with his performances in the Giro d’Italia and the Arctic Race of Norway. Pidcock has a unique physiology that allows him to excel over three weeks, and he has been given the green light by his team boss Doug Ryder to challenge for the overall general classification. With his speed and agility on the descents, Pidcock could be a dark horse in the race, and his team seems to be building around him with the signing of several new riders.

Pidcock’s team, Ineos Grenadiers, has a strong history of producing top riders, and he will be supported by a squad of experienced riders who will help to pace him and protect him in the mountains. Pidcock himself has been training hard to prepare for the Vuelta, and he has been working on his climbing and time trialing skills to become a more well-rounded rider.

The route of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana promises to be a thrilling one, with 10 summit finishes and several mountainous stages that will test the climbers’ endurance. The early stages will be dominated by the classics specialists, who will look to take advantage of the flat roads and fast finishes. However, as the race progresses, the focus will shift to the mountain stages, where Vingegaard and Pidcock will be vying for the top spot.

The individual time trial on stage five will be a key moment in the race, and the team time trial later on will add an extra layer of complexity to the competition. The Vuelta’s mountain stages will be particularly challenging, with the climbs up to the Alto de Angliru and the penultimate stage slugfest on the Bola del Mundo expected to be among the most dramatic.

As the 184 riders set to start the race on Saturday take to the roads, it is clear that the Vuelta a Espana will be a battle for the ages. With Vingegaard and Pidcock leading the charge, and several other top riders lurking in the shadows, it will be a thrilling ride to the finish in Madrid on September 14.

Key Riders to Watch:

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): The 28-year-old Dane is considered the favourite to win the Vuelta, with a strong track record and experience in the mountains.

Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers): The 26-year-old British cyclist has been impressing this season with his performances in the Giro d’Italia and the Arctic Race of Norway, and has been given the green light to challenge for the overall general classification.

Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo): The 28-year-old Danish rider has been consistently impressive in the Classics and has a strong record in the mountains.

Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe): The 26-year-old German rider has been working hard to prepare for the Vuelta, and has shown himself to be a strong climber and time trialer.

Carlos Verona (Movistar Team): The 29-year-old Spanish rider has a strong record in the mountains and has been working hard to prepare for the Vuelta.

Key Stages to Watch:

Stage 5: Individual time trial (Madrid to Madrid)

Stage 10: Mountain stage (Andorra to Andorra)

Stage 14: Mountain stage (Bola del Mundo to Bola del Mundo)

Stage 18: Mountain stage (Alto de Angliru to Alto de Angliru)

Stage 21: Final stage (Madrid to Madrid)