'It would be a dream' – Vuelta a España director hopes for Pogacar-Vingegaard rematch after Tour de France

Vuelta a España director Javier Guillén has expressed his desire to see both Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard battle it out for the red jersey at this year’s edition of the Vuelta, which celebrates the race’s 90th anniversary.

“Right now, there is a legendary rider, Tadej Pogačar. It is satisfying to hear him talk of the World Championships, of San Remo… and he has the idea of completing the collection in his head,” Guillén told AS. "If Merckx has all three Grand Tours, then he has to have them too."

Tadej Pogačar has appeared at the Vuelta only once previously, back in 2019, where he finished third in the general classification and claimed three stage wins on his Grand Tour debut. Since then, Pogačar has gone on to win three editions of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, nine monuments and has become world champion. 

Guillén believes that a potential clash between the two Tour de France stars would add extra drama to the Vuelta, especially as both would arrive with different levels of motivation and fatigue following July's battle in France.

"Hopefully, we could witness a duel with Jonas Vingegaard, who knows the Vuelta well. For me, it would be a dream if the two of them came, with the fatigue of the Tour. That has to be managed too, both in terms of the winner's celebrations and the loser's desire for revenge," Guillén said.

Vingegaard is more well-versed in the Spanish Grand Tour, having made two previous appearances. In 2020, the Dane was a domestique for Primož Roglič, who claimed the second of four titles at the race. Three years later, the duo were locked in a three-way tug-of-war for team leadership alongside Sepp Kuss, who found himself in the race leadership. Vingegaard eventually ended second in the general classification, 17 seconds behind his American teammate and with two stage wins in his pocket.

Now in his 17th year as race director, Guillén has overseen a significant transformation of the Spanish Grand Tour, establishing it as a race known for unpredictability and challenging terrain.

"Now, fans know they will encounter uncertainty, excitement and mountains. These are the hallmarks we have worked on, and the path has been straightforward once we found the roadmap," Guillén explained.

When talking about the race's history, Guillén also outlined ambitious plans for the future, including a dream finish in the Canary Islands. "I would love to fulfil the dream of finishing the Vuelta in the Canary Islands. We would enjoy the best climbs that can be found in Spain and cycling in general."

The race has continued in its efforts to internationalise the race, as the other grand tours have also done so, with the race set to begin in a foreign country in upcoming editions. Piemonte, Italy, will host the start of the 2025 edition, where Guillén hopes Pogačar and Vingegaard will be present, whilst Monaco is set to host the start in 2026.

"We must also continue to internationalise and continue to find new climbs, even though it is becoming increasingly complicated. There are still some, and next year there will be more," Guillén said.

The 2025 Vuelta a España kicks off on August 23 in Torino, Italy, and concludes on September 14 in the Spanish capital of Madrid. Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) is the defending champion.