Seven summit finishes, four medium mountain stages, over 58,000 meters of elevation gain: it's the toughest Vuelta ever, at least according to those who designed it. It starts once again outside the borders, in the Principality of Monaco, with a short time trial, and the finish in Granada is unprecedented with a spectacular final circuit that includes four climbs to the Alhambra. In a route entirely designed in Andalusia in the second half, there's room for both sprinters and attackers, as well as time trialists (two opportunities: the 9 kilometers on the first day, the 32 on the third-to-last), but it will undoubtedly be the mountains that decide the winner. With a couple of novelties: a gravel section in the finale of the sixth stage and the finish at the terrible Collado del Alguacil on the penultimate stage, with gradients up to twenty percent. Absent are last year's winner Vingegaard and two other stage race specialists like Evenepoel and Seixas, but the start line will feature great classics specialists like Van Aert and Pedersen and emerging talents like Vidar and Nordhagen. Out of the winners' circle for over a decade (Aru's last victory in 2015), Italy entrusts a dozen riders with the task of upholding the nation's honor in the stages. Here are the ten faces (one above all, plus nine others) who are candidates for final victory.

Tadej Pogacar. He wins because every time he shows up he takes everything, because there's no rival in sight who can worry him, because the opportunity to enter the club of those who have won all three Grand Tours is his objective. He doesn't win because occasionally bad luck even looks at the best.

Primoz Roglic. He wins because he's already done it four times, because he's the freshest of all, because even though he says he's only targeting stages, having had a thousand troubles he's still someone to keep an eye on. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Richard Carapaz. He wins because he came out of the Tour in brilliant condition, because he was born for courses like this, because by only targeting stages you always end up high in the general classification. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Joao Almeida. He wins because between illnesses and injuries he hasn't pushed himself much, because he's another rider who always finishes Grand Tours in the top ten, because if his captain Pogacar had a bad day he'd be the best alternative. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Felix Gall. He wins because at the Giro he finally got a taste of the podium, because a race like this is ideal for a climber, because in the absence of Seixas he wants to prove himself a winner. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Mattias Skjelmose. He wins because he's coming off a Tour raced at the pace of the strongest, because in his only previous outing on Spanish roads he finished in the top five, because he has the confidence of the entire team. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Oscar Onley. He wins because he wants to bounce back after missing the Tour, because he wants to confirm that among the group of emerging young talents he belongs too, because compared to his teammate Carlos Rodriguez he's shown a few more signs. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Cian Uijtdebroeks. He wins because he needs to redeem a season with more shadows than light, because he offers more guarantees than his teammate Mas, because of the new generation he's still the one who hasn't shown up yet. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Tobias Johannessen. He wins because he's coming off a good Tour, because he has the qualities for this course, because if he decided to tackle two Grand Tours in one season for the first time it means he's ready. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.

Santiago Buitrago. He wins because he's a mountain man and here the terrain doesn't lack, because he enjoys the complete confidence of the team, because chasing stage wins he's always finished in the top fifteen. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around, everyone else is racing for second place.