The Tour of Spain: never likely to have quite the same brand impact as the Tour de France.
But while the youngest three-week race of the Grand Tour trio is often the most overlooked, the Vuelta a Espana might just be the most competitive and entertaining of the year.
Why? Put simply, Tadej Pogacar is just too good these days. He has won the past two Tours de France by a combined 10 minutes.
But Pogacar is not riding the Vuelta, as he focuses attention on September’s World Championships.
And while the 26-year-old Slovenian is away training in a jersey which specifically asks people not to stop him or take photographs,, external the rest of the peloton are seeking glory.
“I’m looking forward to this Tour of Spain,” said 28-year-old Jonas Vingegaard – the favourite given he is the only rider to have beaten Pogacar at the Tour de France, taking titles in 2022 and 2023.
Things have changed, and this summer’s Grande Boucle – the ‘great loop’ around France – proved it.
Vingegaard’s lung injuries from a harrowing crash last year possibly still linger, meaning there’s pressure on the Dane to win something and uphold his status as being the only rider anywhere near Pogacar’s level.
He was second in the Tour, just over four minutes behind Pogacar, so this represents a major opportunity.