Pogacar leaves door open to Vuelta return after fifth Tour victory

Tadej Pogačar has not ruled out riding the Vuelta a España in the aftermath of his record-equalling fifth Tour de France victory, with the Slovenian suggesting the idea was still under consideration when he spoke with reporters in Paris on Sunday evening.

“Right now, if Vuelta started tomorrow, then probably I would say no,” Pogačar said. “But in two weeks, I can still decide.”

The Vuelta gets under way in just under four weeks – on August 22 – in Pogačar’s adopted home of Monaco. The Slovenian last raced the Vuelta as a neo-pro in 2019, when he won three stages en route to third place overall.

Twelve months ago, Pogačar resisted calls to ride the Vuelta, citing fatigue after carrying a knee injury through the final part of the Tour. He looked a rather less jaded figure throughout this year’s Tour, though he noted that wouldn’t necessarily translate to racing the Vuelta.

“I don’t say that last year I was burning out, but I was well aware that it can happen,” Pogačar said. “I’m aware this can happen if you push too far – so that’s also why, just now after the Tour de France, I don’t want to say, yeah, I go to Vuelta or I go to all the races. I need to also think about this and keep the feet on the ground.”

Pogačar has a firmer idea of his activities for the next two weeks, with the world champion confirming that he will line out in a criterium in his hometown of Komenda next Friday. He also outlined plans to travel to support his partner Urška Žigart at the Tour de France Femmes the following week.

“I’m flying back home tomorrow, then I have some housework to do,” Pogačar said. “Then I have a crit race in my hometown on Friday night, with some special guests from the Tour as well, some big riders. Then on Sunday, I have the Pogi Challenge with kids and amateurs, so it’s a big weekend for me with a lot of work for my foundation. And I hope I can see some stages of the Tour de France, to see Urška riding.”