Vuelta a España is Spain’s premier annual cycling race. This exciting multi-stage event is held through August and September each year and is part of the UCI World Tour. Conceived following the sporting and commercial success of the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a España is now a close third in the sport’s growing list of prestigious Grand Tours.
Vuelta a España is a grueling test of endurance and technique. With 21-day stages in a narrow 23-day race window, there are all kinds of stages and terrain, including an undulating test through the Pyrenees. As the anticipation hots up for this year’s event, let’s run through the four leading contenders for the red jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard
The Dane has won back-to-back Tour de France editions in 2022 and 2023 and comes into 2023’s Vuelta a España as a red-hot favorite with the bookies. The latest cycling odds for the event have established Vingegaard as the 5/4 favorite, which is no surprise considering his team has been bullish about achieving a clean sweep in the Grand Tour this season.
In 2022, Vingegaard opted to steer clear of some of the major events after his inaugural Tour de France triumph. However, this season the Dane feels more robust to compete elsewhere at Grand Tour events. The one question mark for Vingegaard is his inexperience in the Vuelta, having raced in the event just once in 2020.
Primož Rogli
It’s fair to say that Primož Rogli? has plenty of history with Vuelta a España. This year, Rogli? is bidding to clinch a fourth Vuelta of his cycling career, which would equal the record set by Roberto Heras. The bookmakers believe Rogli has the best chance of pipping Vingegaard to the red jersey this year and with good reason.
Rogli has prepared well for this year’s Vuelta, with a recent appearance at Vuelta a Burgos to acclimatize to his northern Spain surroundings. He also won this year’s Giro d’Italia, setting him up nicely for the Vuelta.
An exciting time for Team Jumbo-Visma
What’s particularly interesting about Vingegaard and Rogli? is that they both ride for Team Jumbo-Visma. This Dutch cycling team, which has evolved from the former team, Rabobank, is going to be well represented at the head of the field.
Jumbo-Visma have already confirmed Vingegaard and Rogli will have shared leadership roles in the team at this year’s Vuelta. Marc Reef, sporting director, Jumbo-Visma, said the pair will be both viewed as “leaders” of the race from the outset, with neither rider given preferential treatment, at least at this early stage of the event.
Reef spoke of the “excellent preparation” Rogli? has enjoyed following the Giro d’Italia, while Reef has also been encouraged by the “signals” from Vingegaard after returning to training following his Tour de France triumph. Reef said both riders have the number-one goal of entering Madrid with the red jersey. It’s fair to say Jumbo-Visma will also have an able support act for Vingegaard and Rogli?. Their eight-man team includes Wilco Keldermann and Sepp Kuss, both of whom may be able to work in tandem with either rider to gain advantages during certain stages.
