La Vuelta boss dismisses Tadej Pogacar dominance concern ahead of Spanish return

Pogačar returns to the Spanish Grand Tour seven years after winning three stages and finishing third overall on his debut. Since then, he has won the Tour de France five times and added the Giro d’Italia to his palmarès.

La Vuelta is now the only Grand Tour missing from his collection.

“For La Vuelta it was a dream,” Guillén told EFE about Pogačar’s decision to return. “We always want the best and he is the best.”

Guillén believes the Slovenian’s presence can lift the race both on and off the road.

“We have a very strong and varied route, where the mountains predominate and which is very much to the spectators’ taste,” he said. “With the big news of Pogačar’s participation, La Vuelta will be even more spectacular.”

“The Slovenian is a legend of world sport. He is pure spectacle and cycling in its purest form.”

Pogačar’s dominance at the Tour prompted debate over whether the gap to his rivals had become too large, but Guillén does not believe that will reduce interest in La Vuelta.

“The difference in strength between Pogačar and the rest is what it is, but he is a legend and with him comes the spectacle,” Guillén said. “He is a unique rider.”

For Guillén, Pogačar’s return also matters beyond the sporting battle.

“Pogačar’s presence is important,” he said. “La Vuelta will receive greater media attention, as well as more attention from fans along the roads.”

Pogačar will nevertheless arrive with the Tour de France still in his legs, something Guillén believes could add an element of uncertainty.

“We will see how he is after the Tour, but he starts as the big favourite,” he said. “It is also an incentive for his rivals because they are going to measure themselves against the best.”

Guillén hopes the fight for the red jersey remains alive into the final days in Granada, even if he accepts that organisers can only do so much.

“What we want as organisers is excitement until the end, but ultimately the road decide,” he said. “He dominated the Tour by a wide margin, but it was still an entertaining race. I would like to see one of Pogačar’s great displays.”

The route should offer plenty of opportunities for those displays. The 81st edition covers 3,299 kilometres across 21 stages, with 51 categorised climbs, seven summit finishes and two time trials.

The climbing begins almost immediately. Font Romeu hosts the first summit finish on stage three, while Aitana, La Pandera, Calar Alto and Alto del Alguacil feature later in a race again heavily tilted towards the climbers.

“Our route model works and we try to remain faithful to it,” Guillén said. “It is a Vuelta with plenty to offer in the mountains.”

There is one notable change in emphasis. After starting in Monaco and travelling through France and Andorra before entering Spain on stage five, the race will increasingly turn towards the south.

“It offers the same as other years, but in different places,” Guillén said. “Instead of the north taking centre stage, it will be the south.”

“We have written the script. Now the riders have to interpret it.”

That move towards southern Spain also puts high temperatures firmly on the agenda.

Heat was already a major subject during the Tour de France and Guillén says La Vuelta is prepared to use existing protocols if conditions become extreme.

“When it comes to the heat, we will deal with whatever comes,” he said. “I expect a relatively mild start, and when we enter southern Spain it will already be September, so we hope for lower temperatures.”

If that does not happen, measures can be introduced.

“The protocols are in place and we know how to manage them, including warning teams about high temperatures,” Guillén said. “The UCI could allow an increase in hydration zones and other measures.”

More significant interventions remain possible. “If other adjustments are needed, for example to the route, we will make them,” Guillén said.

Pogačar himself raised the question during the Tour of whether cycling should reconsider its traditional summer calendar because of increasingly high temperatures.

Guillén accepts that the discussion is legitimate, but remains against moving the Tour or La Vuelta from their established dates.

“Any discussion about the possibility of changing dates in the calendar is valid,” he said. “I agree with Christian Prudhomme that the dates of the Tour and La Vuelta should not be changed, nor should the usual race times.”

“We all depend on people following the race. We need people to watch us on television and along the roads.”

Guillén also pointed to the wider commercial consequences.

“Changing dates would alter the entire organisational structure, affecting investments, sponsors, teams and riders,” he said. “Our position is that the dates should not be moved because the circumstances do not justify it. But if there is a debate, it is welcome.”

Anti-doping testing will also remain a talking point after nightly surprise controls generated debate during the Tour.

Guillén stressed that La Vuelta will fully support the work of the International Testing Agency and the UCI, while the testing programme itself remains independent from the race organisation.

“We are aware that doping is a scourge for our sport, although it is much less prevalent now because it has been greatly reduced,” Guillén said. “Even so, we do not lower our guard.”

“Anti-doping controls are handled by the ITA, which is an independent organisation working in collaboration with the UCI.”

La Vuelta, he added, will give the authorities whatever support is required.

“At La Vuelta, we will facilitate their work and cooperate wherever necessary.”