Why Tadej Pogačar Is Not Cycling At Vuelta a España

Tadej Pogačar has opted out of the upcoming Vuelta a España 2025, following his fourth Tour de France title win. This means that he will not be complete a three-set Grand Tour which also consist of Tour of Flanders. 

UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed the decision, explaining that the Slovenian star will step away from competition in August to recover both physically and mentally. Pogačar is expected to return in September for the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montréal, ahead of the World Championships in Rwanda (October 1-5) and his bid for a fifth Il Lombardia title.

“I have fantastic memories of the Vuelta from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest,” Pogačar said in the team’s announcement. “I’m excited to go back to Canada — the races are tough but beautiful and fit my style well. I’ll aim to be in top form for that part of the season and the Worlds.”

Team sports manager Matxin Fernández explained that while a Vuelta return was originally planned, both rider and team agreed that rest was essential after an intense first half of the year.

“The season has been a long one for him,” Fernández said. “The best thing now is to take a good rest and build up to his final goals.”

A Demanding Season for Tadej Pogačar

Tadej Pogačar’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. Starting with the UAE Tour in February, he went on to win Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the Tour de France. His “worst” result all year was third at Milan-San Remo.

Despite skipping the Giro d’Italia to focus on the Tour, Pogačar’s calendar was packed with high-stakes one-day Classics and stage races — including Paris-Roubaix, which wasn’t part of his initial plan but added significant physical and emotional strain.

“People don’t always appreciate how tough it is to do all the Spring Classics,” said team manager Mauro Gianetti. “A one-day race like Roubaix may seem simple from the outside, but it’s more taxing than a week-long stage race. Doing them all in one spring campaign is harder than a Grand Tour.”

By August, Pogačar had logged 43 race days — fewer than in 2024, when he completed the Giro-Tour double — but the intensity of the 2025 calendar was much higher.

Also Read: Tadej Pogacar wins ‘the fight for green’ in Slovenia

Managing Pressure and Expectations

Gianetti stressed that the decision to skip the Vuelta also reflects a need to protect Pogačar’s mental well-being.

“Being Tadej Pogačar is nice, but it’s not easy,” Gianetti told Cyclingnews and Domestique. “He is always expected to win, to entertain, to be at the center of attention. That becomes exhausting.”

The final week of the Tour de France saw speculation about Pogačar’s form and motivation after he failed to win any of the final eight stages, despite dominating the early part of the race. Gianetti dismissed the rumours, noting that Pogačar was simply tired — like everyone else.

On the final stage in Montmartre, Pogačar silenced doubts by launching an attacking show alongside Wout van Aert. “He could’ve hidden in the peloton, but he chose to race hard and finish with a smile — that was his answer to all the noise,” Gianetti said.

Also Read: Cycling Monuments: 5 Greatest One-Day Races

Looking Ahead

Tadej Pogačar has hinted at the emotional toll of his career, recently telling Slovenian media: “I’m already counting the years to my retirement. I need to enjoy the moment and be ready to stop when the time comes.”

Before turning to the World Championships, Pogačar will race in Canada, where he has fond memories and strong form. The Grand Prix Cycliste races in Québec and Montréal — where he won in 2024 — suit his aggressive, all-round style.

In his absence, UAE Team Emirates will field João Almeida and Juan Ayuso as co-leaders for the Vuelta, which starts Saturday, August 23.