{"id":866971,"date":"2026-08-22T04:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T04:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/866971\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T04:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T04:08:15","slug":"the-best-fantasy-picks-for-your-2026-vuelta-a-espana-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/866971\/","title":{"rendered":"The best fantasy picks for your 2026 Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a team"},"content":{"rendered":"

For every Grand Tour fantasy cycling league, it\u2019s the same story when it comes to the list of riders in the mix: the search for dark horses. Especially in the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a\u2014arguably the most unpredictable Grand Tour of the year\u2014these riders can make all the difference in the end. To help you top your fantasy league, IDL Pro Cycling highlights a few riders to watch, with good reason.<\/p>\n

Christophe Laporte – Visma | Lease a Bike\"christophe-laporte\"\/Anyone looking at the Visma | Lease a Bike roster will likely focus first and foremost on Wout van Aert<\/a> and Matthew Brennan. However, we\u2019d like to add a third choice\u2014in addition to the team\u2019s general classification contenders\u2014in the form of Christophe Laporte<\/a>. The Frenchman has faced his share of challenges over the past year and a half, but when he\u2019s racing…<\/p>\n

… he\u2019s in it to win it. This season he\u2019s only had 20 race days, but in those races he finished in the top 10 a total of 14 times. And while it may not be widely discussed, Laporte is also a serious contender for the first red jersey in Monaco. And not just because he\u2019s from La-Seyne-sur-Mer, not far from Monaco. On a similar course in Copenhagen during the 2022 Tour, he was even on his way to claiming the first yellow jersey until he crashed on the wet, technical circuit.<\/p>\n

If Visma | Lease a Bike, with either Wout van Aert or Matthew Brennan, sets its sights on the green jersey, Laporte could also be called upon to help in that effort. The Frenchman, who missed the Tour due to a quadriceps tear, has often been used in the past to snatch points from competitors at intermediate sprints and finishes, thereby securing the points classification as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Raul Garcia Pierna – Movistar\"raul-garcia-pierna\"\/<\/p>\n

The general expectation is that this will be a Vuelta with plenty of opportunities for breakaway riders. Whereas riders like Vingegaard or Pogacar typically aim for five or six stage wins in the Tour de France, that level of dominance is often somewhat less pronounced in the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a. And that opens up opportunities for the many attackers lining up at the start.<\/p>\n

At Movistar, the first thing that catches the eye might be the quality of top talent Ivan Romeo, who recently finished third in Poland, but on the other hand, there\u2019s also the sheer volume of talent provided by Raul Garcia Pierna. The Spaniard, who joined Movistar last season after the defunct Arke\u00e1 team folded, has been on the attack in all kinds of races all season long. In the Tour de France\u2014which wasn\u2019t exactly breakaway-friendly\u2014he was part of the breakaway group in 7 of the 19 stages.<\/p>\n

In June, he was part of a decisive breakaway four times in the Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, earning him three top-5 finishes and second place in the points classification. He\u2019s already given it a shot in the Basque Country (4 out of 5 stages), Valencia (2 out of 4), and several one-day races, so we can expect to see this strong time-trialist again in the Vuelta. Will he be the Andreas Leknessund (Giro) of this Vuelta?<\/p>\n

Cristian Rodriguez – XDS-Astana\"cristian-rodriguez\"\/<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already mentioned that there are plenty of opportunities for breakaway riders, but on the other hand, there are also opportunities for the riders who are actually aiming for a top spot in the general classification. In the peloton, the value of finishing low in the top ten does decrease somewhat, but in the various strategies that can be employed, the payoff remains the same.<\/p>\n

That is precisely why a rider like Cristian Rodriguez (XDS-Astana) could be an interesting prospect. The Spaniard finished 13th in the Vuelta in 2023 and 2024 and is eager to break into the top ten. The fact that he\u2014just like the aforementioned Garcia Pierna\u2014has moved from the somewhat lackluster Arkea to a better team could help him achieve that goal.<\/p>\n

Rodriguez already finished second in the Tour of Oman this season and, in June at the Auvergne Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, was able to hold his own against Tour contenders like Skjelmose, Ayuso, Johannesen, and Seixas during the final weekend. If he\u2019s in good enough shape, a solid finish is definitely within reach.<\/p>\n

Ivo Oliveira – UAE Emirates-XRG\"ivo-oliveira\"\/<\/p>\n

Last year, we already included Ivo Oliveira in our picks, and that turned out well at the time. The Portuguese rider was part of UAE\u2019s winning TTT team and finished fifth himself in the shortened time trial in Valladolid during the final week. In 2026, he\u2019ll be back, but this time as a teammate of the top favorite, Tadej Pogacar.<\/p>\n

Oliveira is usually considered the rider tasked with protecting Pogacar on the flat, a role he also took on this season in the Tour de Romandie. If the team leader is safe, the Portuguese rider might just get a chance of his own in a sprint, or the peloton could ride safely to the finish if a breakaway group has formed.<\/p>\n

In any case, the team from the Emirates has great confidence in the Oliveiras, who are normally expected to receive a three-year contract extension. It\u2019s possible that this could be sealed with a small\u2014collective\u2014success in the Vuelta.<\/p>\n

Leo Bisiaux – Decathlon CMA CGM\"Photos-action_Leo-Bisiaux_01_\u00a9P.Ballet_A.Broadway\"\/<\/p>\n

As good as Oliveira\u2019s tip was last year, Leo Bisiaux\u2019s was just as lackluster. Still, we\u2019re sticking with the Frenchman again this year. In 2025, he finished third in Burgos, but didn\u2019t make an impact in the Vuelta. This year, he guided Felix Gall to the overall victory and finished seventh himself, having previously secured top-three finishes in Li\u00e8ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Li\u00e8ge, Cl\u00e1sica de San Sebasti\u00e1n, and numerous podium finishes in France.<\/p>\n

The reason we have confidence in this barely 21-year-old Frenchman again this year lies in the plan that he and his team have been following. Bisiaux has known since the start of the season that he needs to peak for the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>\n

The fact that Gall is a podium contender on the team isn\u2019t necessarily a disadvantage. Gregor M\u00fchlberger and Callum Scotson have been designated as versatile support riders, while Matthew Riccitello is certainly capable of securing a good overall classification as well. The fast and strong climber Bisiaux, just like Jordan Labrosse, will have opportunities to go for his own victory.<\/p>\n

Cesar Macias – Burgos-BH\"cesar-macias\"\/<\/p>\n

When it comes to Spanish Pro-Continental teams, you often have to look hard to find potential gems. For this Vuelta, Cesar Macias could fall into that category. Macias is a young Mexican rider; ever since Isaac del Toro\u2019s performances, Mexico has also caught the cycling bug. While Del Toro excels on the climbs, Macias shines more on the flats.<\/p>\n

Macias rode his last races in China, where he won a stage at Qinghai Lake, and in the Dominican Republic. Prior to that, the Central American rider\u2014who is a reasonably strong climber\u2014competed in the entire Flemish spring season, during which he still managed to secure a few podium finishes in the Scheldeprijs, the Tour of Limburg, and the Scheldeprijs.<\/p>\n

However, the 22-year-old rider\u2019s greatest achievements came in 2025, when he nearly won a stage twice in the most famous U23 race of them all\u2014the Tour de l\u2019Avenir. In the flatter stages, Macias held his own among top talents like Noah Hobbs and Davide Donati, who are likely to be among the fastest riders in the world within a few years.<\/p>\n

Jarno Widar – Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9\"jarno-widar\"\/<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one rider in the Vuelta peloton who\u2019s had high expectations placed on him for years, it\u2019s Jarno Widar. The Belgian, barely 20 years old, finished second in last year\u2019s Tour de l\u2019Avenir, behind… Paul Seixas. In fact, Widar won two mountain stages ahead of the Frenchman, as well as Jorgen Nordhagen of Visma | Lease a Bike\u2014who is also competing in this Vuelta\u2014and U23 world champion Lorenzo Finn of Red Bull.<\/p>\n

At Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9, they\u2019re taking a cautious approach with Widar, who\u2019s already had his share of bad luck this season. For now, the punchy rider will focus on stage wins. \u201cJarno is a winner, and he\u2019s heading to Monaco with that mindset. We\u2019re aiming for a stage win. Although he\u2014and we as a team\u2014would also be very proud if he manages a top-five finish in the coming three weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re deliberately choosing not to set a specific general classification goal,” team manager Mario Aerts explained further. “The most important thing is for him to gain experience, without any pressure. We\u2019ll take the Vuelta day by day and see where that takes us along the way.” The question is to what extent the highly motivated Widar can go along with that himself. But the potential is there, as we also saw this year in the Algarve, Switzerland, and Burgos.<\/p>\n

Finn Fisher-Black – Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe\"finn-fisher-black\"\/<\/p>\n

Due to a crash, Primoz Roglic\u2019s form is not entirely guaranteed for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, so the primary objective has shifted from the overall classification to winning stages. One of the designated riders\u2014alongside sprinter Jordi Meeus\u2014is New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black.<\/p>\n

Kiwi is only 24, but has already ridden for Visma, UAE, and now Red Bull. This season, he has already finished second in four different WorldTour races\u2014the Tour Down Under, the Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, the Tour de Romandie, and most recently the Tour of Poland\u2014but that first WorldTour victory is still elusive. That\u2019s the goal for the upcoming Vuelta.<\/p>\n

“We want Finn to race aggressively, create opportunities, and seize them when they arise,” said team director Sven Vanthourenhout. Fisher-Black added, \u201cI feel like I\u2019m in good shape heading into the race, and I\u2019m eager to win some stages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jakob Omrzel – Bahrain Victorious\"jakob-omrzel\"\/<\/p>\n

Speaking of talent: Slovenian Jakob Omrzel also falls into the same category as Widar and Nordhagen. The 20-year-old rider won last year\u2019s Giro Next Gen and is now preparing for his first Grand Tour, but his team is keeping expectations in check. \u201cThis is his first Grand Tour, and he\u2019s here to learn a lot. Having Pello by his side will be especially valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Omrzel managed to make his mark again this year in the few races he competed in. In the Tour of the Alps and the Tour of Hungary, he finished in the top ten; in his home country\u2019s tour, he came in third; and in the Cl\u00e1sica San Sebasti\u00e1n, he was also in the leading group.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s certainly a good cyclist, and he\u2019ll only get better in the future, but will it happen in time for this Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a?<\/p>\n

Stefan K\u00fcng – TudorThe last name on our list is a fairly well-known one: Stefan K\u00fcng of Tudor. This is partly a gesture of support, which you\u2019ll understand after watching his rehab video<\/a>. After a serious crash in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February, K\u00fcng did everything he could to ensure he\u2019d still be able to race in 2026.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s understandable that he recently let his tears flow freely in the Tour of Poland after winning the final time trial. The next stop for the Swiss team is Monaco, where the Vuelta will also kick off with a time trial.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, K\u00fcng already had a strong showing in the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a on behalf of Groupama-FDJ, competing in the sprints and winning the final time trial. In the absence of a sprinter and a true general classification contender\u2014unless you want to count Marco Brenner\u2014he can now seize his opportunities, which was already a major ambition of his during his rehabilitation (see video below).<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For every Grand Tour fantasy cycling league, it\u2019s the same story when it comes to the list of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":866972,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,21615,82,301174],"class_list":["post-866971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-previews","tag-sports","tag-vuelta-a-espana-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/866972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=866971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=866971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}