Madrid Leaders Pledge Unity to Secure Vuelta Victory Against Pogačar Rivalry in Cycling World

UAE Emirates Sets Sights on Vuelta a España Glory With Ayuso and Almeida

Madrid, Spain – August 22, 2025 – UAE Emirates-XRG is preparing to compete in the 2025 Vuelta a España without its star rider, Tadej Pogačar. The team will instead pin its hopes on a two-pronged attack led by Juan Ayuso and João Almeida, aiming to dethrone the heavily favored Jonas vingegaard.

A New Chapter for UAE Emirates

This year’s Vuelta marks a significant shift for UAE Emirates, as thay seek their first Grand Tour victory without the dominant Pogačar. Ayuso and Almeida have pledged to set aside any internal competition and collaborate to secure the overall win, a challenge that will require seamless teamwork and strategic execution.

Vingegaard Remains the frontrunner

Jonas vingegaard has already identified Ayuso and Almeida as key threats. The Visma-Lease a Bike team, fresh off Simon yates’s victory at the Giro d’Italia, is determined to maintain its winning streak. Vingegaard, who has chosen to forgo the Rwanda Worlds to focus on the Vuelta, is widely considered the rider to beat.

Strategic Advantages for UAE Emirates

Almeida believes UAE Emirates’ dual leadership provides a crucial advantage. “Vingegaard is the favorite, but we have two cards to play,” Almeida stated.”That will be a big advantage for us.” The team intends to leverage this strength by putting pressure on Visma to control the race’s dynamic, often unpredictable, stages.

Ayuso and Almeida’s Past Performances

Ayuso finished third in the 2022 Vuelta,while Almeida secured third place at the 2023 Giro. Both riders are eager to translate their potential into a podium finish. However, both endured setbacks in earlier Grand Tours this year-Ayuso withdrawing from the Giro, and Almeida crashing out of the Tour de France-making this Vuelta a chance for redemption.

João Almeida is looking to capitalize on this opportunity.

The Pressure to Perform

Ayuso has expressed confidence in his recovery from his earlier struggles, emphasizing his strong connection to his home race. “The Vuelta is very special for me,” he said. “I’ve prepared well and I think I am feeling strong.”

The absence of Pogačar could prompt Vingegaard and Visma to adopt an aggressive strategy from the start, perhaps putting UAE Emirates on the defensive early in the race.

Here’s a comparative overview of the key contenders:

Rider	Team	Grand Tour Wins	Recent Form
Jonas Vingegaard	Visma-Lease a Bike	2 Tour de France	Strong, focused on Vuelta
Juan Ayuso	UAE Emirates-XRG	0	Recovered from Giro withdrawal
João Almeida	UAE Emirates-XRG	0	Recovered from Tour de France crash

Team Dynamics and Potential Challenges

Ayuso and Almeida have previously experienced friction during races, and Ayuso has faced criticism for prioritizing his own ambitions. However, they now insist any past disagreements have been resolved. “We had small clashes, but things get resolved in the moment,” Almeida explained. “We are going with the objective to have success as a team.”

Did You Know? visma-Lease a Bike has secured eight Grand Tour victories with four different riders since 2018, demonstrating their consistent strength in stage racing.

UAE Emirates’ Pursuit of Grand Tour Dominance

UAE Emirates aims to complete its Grand Tour collection, having already secured wins in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia with Pogačar. A vuelta victory woudl solidify their position among cycling’s elite teams, even without their star rider.

Pro Tip: Keep a close watch on the time trial stages, where Ayuso’s strengths could prove decisive.

The Evolving Landscape of Grand Tour Cycling

The rivalry between UAE Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike reflects a broader trend in professional cycling: the rise of super teams with deep rosters and substantial financial backing. This trend has intensified competition and raised the bar for success in Grand Tours.

The ability of teams like UAE emirates to perform at a high level without a single dominant leader is a testament to their depth and strategic planning. This approach is becoming increasingly common as teams seek to mitigate the risks associated with relying too heavily on one rider.

frequently Asked Questions

• What is the primary challenge for UAE Emirates in the Vuelta a España?

  The primary challenge is to win a grand Tour without Tadej Pogačar, relying on the combined strength of Juan Ayuso and João Almeida.

• Who is considered the favorite to win the 2025 Vuelta a España?

  Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike is widely considered the favorite.

• What is the meaning of the rivalry between UAE Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike?

  Their rivalry represents a modern trend in cycling- the dominance of super teams with significant resources and talent.

• What are the strengths of Juan Ayuso and João Almeida?

  Ayuso is a strong time trialist, while Almeida has shown consistent form in stage racing.

• How critically important is team dynamics in a Grand Tour?

  Team dynamics are crucial for success, as riders must cooperate and support each other over three weeks of intense competition.

Will UAE Emirates overcome the odds and secure victory in the Vuelta a España? Share your predictions in the comments below!

How might the collaborative strategy of Madrid-based teams impact Tadej Pogačar’s typical race tactics?

The Challenge: Tadej Pogačar’s Dominance in La Vuelta 2025

The 2025 La Vuelta presents a formidable challenge, largely centered around the anticipated dominance of Slovenian cycling superstar, Tadej Pogačar. His entry into the race has immediately shifted the dynamics, making a unified front from Spanish teams crucial for a potential victory. Pogačar, known for his aggressive riding style and extraordinary climbing ability, is a meaningful threat to any contender aiming for the roja jersey. This year’s Vuelta a España is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent history, with a heightened focus on strategic teamwork to counter Pogačar’s individual strength.

Madrid’s Strategic Response: A United Front

Leaders from key Madrid-based cycling teams – Movistar, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, and Euskaltel-Euskadi – have publicly committed to a collaborative strategy. This unprecedented alliance aims to pool resources, share tactical insights, and coordinate efforts throughout the 21 stages of La Vuelta.The core objective is to neutralize Pogačar’s attacks and create opportunities for a Spanish rider to claim overall victory.

Resource Sharing: Teams will share data on Pogačar’s performance, including power output, climbing speeds, and tactical preferences.

Tactical Coordination: Jointly developed race strategies will focus on controlling breakaways, protecting key riders, and launching coordinated attacks.

Rider Support: Teams will offer mutual support in crucial stages, providing domestiques to assist each other’s leaders.

This collaborative approach represents a departure from conventional rivalries and underscores the gravity of the challenge posed by Pogačar. The Vuelta route, covering over 3,000km of Spanish geography (and potentially venturing into Andorra, Belgium, and France as seen in previous editions – https://www.lavuelta.es/), demands a long-term, strategic approach.

Key Spanish Contenders and Their Roles

Several Spanish riders are positioned to benefit from this unified strategy.

1. Enric Mas (Movistar): A consistent Grand Tour performer, Mas is considered the primary hope for a Spanish victory. The unified strategy will aim to shield him from early attacks and position him for success in the mountain stages.
2. Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers – Spanish National): While riding for a British team, Rodríguez’s Spanish nationality makes him a focal point for national pride. Collaboration could extend to providing support where strategically beneficial.
3. Jon Izagirre (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA): A strong time trialist and aggressive rider,Izagirre can play a crucial role in controlling the race and launching surprise attacks.

The success of this strategy hinges on the ability of these riders to work seamlessly together, putting aside individual ambitions for the greater good of Spanish cycling. Grand Tours like La Vuelta require not just individual brilliance, but also exceptional teamwork.

Pogačar’s Strengths and How Teams Plan to Counter Them

Tadej Pogačar’s strengths are well-documented:

Climbing Prowess: He is arguably the best climber in the world, capable of dropping rivals on even the steepest gradients.

Time Trial Ability: A strong time trialist, Pogačar can gain significant time on his competitors in individual time trials.

Aggressive Racing Style: He is known for launching unexpected attacks, disrupting the rhythm of the race and forcing rivals to respond.

To counter these strengths, the Spanish teams are focusing on:

Controlling the Mountains: Deploying multiple riders to pace-set and neutralize Pogačar’s attacks in the high mountains.

Team time Trials: Maximizing performance in team time trials to minimize any potential gains pogačar might achieve in individual time trials.

Strategic Attacks: Launching coordinated attacks to force Pogačar’s team to expend energy and disrupt their race plan.

the Role of Domestiques and Support Staff

The success of this unified strategy relies heavily on the contributions of domestiques – riders who sacrifice their own ambitions to support their team leaders. These riders will be responsible for:

Pace-Setting: Controlling the tempo of the race and protecting their leaders from the wind.

Fetching Supplies: Providing food and water to their leaders during stages.

Chasing Down breakaways: Working with other teams to neutralize breakaway attempts.

Moreover, the support staff – including team managers, coaches, and mechanics – will play a vital role in analyzing race data, developing tactical plans, and ensuring that the riders are in peak physical condition. Cycling analytics are becoming increasingly important in modern racing.

Ancient Precedents: Teamwork in Grand Tours

While a formal alliance like this is rare, history provides examples of successful teamwork in Grand Tours. the dominance of Team Sky (now Ineos Grenadiers) in the Tour de France was built on a foundation of exceptional teamwork and strategic planning. Their ability to control the race, protect their leaders, and launch coordinated attacks was instrumental in their success.