Overview
- UAE Team Emirates published an eight-rider Vuelta roster on Monday that lists Tadej Pogačar as team leader and confirms João Almeida, Jay Vine, Pavel Sivakov, Pablo Torres, Kevin Vermaerke, Domen Novak and Ivo Oliveira.
- Isaac del Toro is not on the squad and the team has not provided a detailed public explanation beyond general references to recovery and rider management.
- Pogačar arrives having just won a fifth Tour de France and is widely viewed by media as the principal favorite to add the Vuelta to his palmarès and to join the small group of riders who have won all three Grand Tours.
- The Vuelta starts with an individual time trial in Monaco on 22 August, covers about 3,275 km over 21 stages with seven summit finishes and two time trials, and finishes in Granada on 13 September, creating tight recovery timing ahead of the World Championships in Montreal.
- UAE’s selection reflects a veteran support strategy around a protected leader and continues a pattern of limiting Del Toro to one Grand Tour this season, a choice that could preserve the young rider’s form for the world championships and longer-term development.