The Tour of Spain: never likely to have quite the same brand impact as the Tour de France.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But Pogacar is not riding the Vuelta,<\/a> as he focuses attention on September’s World Championships.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> the rest of the peloton are seeking glory.<\/p>\n “I’m looking forward to this Tour of Spain,” said 28-year-old Jonas Vingegaard \u2013 the favourite given he is the only rider to have beaten Pogacar at the Tour de France, taking titles in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n Things have changed, and this summer’s Grande Boucle – the ‘great loop’ around France – proved it.<\/p>\n