Pogacar’s proposal dismissed: Vuelta a España opposes Grand Tour date swap
Tadej Pogacar's recent suggestion that the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España should swap dates has been dismissed by the directors of both races.
Vuelta a España director Javier Guillén has dismissed the idea of his race switching places on the calendar with the Giro d’Italia. The suggestion was floated by Tadej Pogacar last month, and it has been supported by CPA president Adam Hansen.
The Vuelta was previously held in late Spring as the first of the Grand Tours, but it moved to its current, early-Autumn slot on the calendar in 1995. The Giro was initially given the option by the UCI to switch to the September date, but it opted to remain in May.
Over the years, the Giro has been hit by inclement weather in the high mountains that has led to the alteration of mountain stages, while the Vuelta has often taken place in sweltering conditions in late August.
Proponents of the swap maintain that the Giro and Vuelta would benefit from different weather conditions. RCS Sport president Paolo Bellino has dismissed the idea, and he was echoed by Vuelta director Javier Guillén.
“My opinion on this is the same as Paolo Bellino’s, namely that this is not an idea we are considering,” Guillén told Tuttobiciweb.“I think the Giro should keep its traditional dates. Of course, I have great respect for the fact that a rider like Pogačar has proposed something different and for all the debate that has arisen around it. But from the point of view of both the Giro and the Vuelta, I must say that we are happy with the way things are now.”
Guillén dismissed the argument that the Giro would be better served by an Autumn date due to the potential for adverse conditions in the high mountains in May.
“Even in Spain, the weather can be bad in May, just as it can also be in August and September, so this is a problem for everyone,” he said.
Vincenzo Nibali, who has all three Grand Tours on his palmarès, has waded into the debate by suggesting that the three races rotate their positions on the calendar. The idea was previously floated by outgoing Giro director Mauro Vegni, who proposed that his race and the Tour de France could alternate dates every other year.
“It’s another proposal that I respect greatly, it’s as legitimate as all the others that have been made, but honestly, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Guillén said. “Fans need to know when the Grand Tours are taking place, and I don’t think changing every year would be a good thing for us. In my opinion, we should stay as we are now with the Giro, Tour and Vuelta.”
Guillén was speaking at the presentation of the 2026 Vuelta in Monaco on Wednesday night. The race will feature seven summit finishes and more than 58,000 metres of climbing in what has been billed as one of the toughest editions in its history.
