Tadej Pogacar is ready for the Vuelta, the only Grand Tour he has yet to win: "It's a dream". On Saturday, the Slovenian phenomenon will start in the 9 km opening time trial in Monaco (where he lives) as the overwhelming favorite to claim the red jersey and thus complete the prestigious trifecta in the major stage races: he has already won 1 Giro d'Italia and 5 Tours de France.

The UAE Emirates superstar, with darker hair than during the Tour, presents himself at the press conference visibly relaxed, with an air of determination and optimism: “I have nurtured this dream of winning the three Grand Tours for several years, and the Vuelta is a fundamental objective for me”. Not just a personal milestone, but also an important chapter in his career: to enter the Triple Crown club this way, becoming the ninth champion to achieve it in cycling history after Anquetil, Gimondi, Merckx, Hinault, Contador, Nibali, Froome and Vingegaard. Pogacar reassured about his condition after the Tour's exertions: “There has been enough time to recover. The start is close to home and I hope my legs are in good shape”.

He raced the Vuelta only once, as a neo-professional in 2019: three stage wins and third place overall behind Roglic and Valverde. It was his first Grand Tour (he debuted at the Tour in 2020 and at the Giro in 2024): “The level of participants is high and it will be a tough battle. It's never easy to win”, explains the 27-year-old Slovenian. And on the decision to participate in the Vuelta, Pogacar replied: “I've wanted to do it for a long time. In December, we sat down and discussed the possibility. It meant a lot to me, especially because of the start here in Monaco”.

It will be a three-week journey from Saturday to Granada, September 13, the final finish of the 81st edition of the Vuelta: a new chapter in his already impressive career. Pogacar's determination to claim the title is palpable, and fans around the world eagerly await to see if the Slovenian will manage to turn his dream into reality.