The race has yet to reach Spanish soil. After starting in Monaco, stage two also took place in France, before the first summit finish of the race arrives in the Pyrenees on Monday. This year’s Vuelta comprises 21 stages covering 3,275 kilometres, more than 58,000 metres of climbing and seven summit finishes.
Pogačar wins time-trial thriller by nine hundredths of a second
The race began with a short but technically demanding 9.4-kilometre individual time trial through Monaco. Parts of the route followed roads also used for the Formula One Grand Prix, and Pogačar knew the surroundings particularly well, having lived in the principality for several years.
Even so, the battle with Ethan Hayter could hardly have been closer. Pogačar stopped the clock at 10:57, beating the Briton by just 0.09 seconds. Both averaged 51.5 km/h. Josh Tarling finished third, four seconds down, with Callum Thornley another second behind.
It was Pogačar’s 36th Grand Tour stage victory and his fourth at the Vuelta. His previous three all came during his only previous appearance in the race, in 2019, when he finished third overall as a 20-year-old. For the first time in his career, he also pulled on the red leader’s jersey.
After five Tour de France victories and his Giro d’Italia triumph in 2024, the Vuelta is the only Grand Tour still missing from Pogačar’s palmarès. Overall victory would make him the ninth rider to win all three of cycling’s major stage races.
Tarling’s third place was also notable. The 22-year-old lined up only days after the death of his brother Finlay and still produced one of the fastest rides on a highly technical course.
Hayter attacks the red jersey, Brennan wins in Manosque
Sunday’s stage from Monaco to Manosque was the first conventional road stage of this year’s Vuelta. After missing out on victory by the narrowest of margins the previous day, Hayter remained within striking distance and went on the attack early.
The Briton bridged across to a breakaway group and later collected six bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint, briefly moving into the virtual lead of the race.
The peloton, however, did not allow him to stay away. Visma-Lease a Bike in particular kept the pace high with two objectives in mind: Wout van Aert was given the chance to take over the red jersey, while Matthew Brennan remained an option for a potential sprint finish.
Van Aert attacked with around two kilometres remaining, with Pogačar quickly closing the gap. Alessandro Romele joined them shortly before the final kilometre, but the peloton reeled the trio back in soon afterwards.
Brennan was waiting behind – and made full use of his opportunity. The 21-year-old powered clear in the uphill sprint to win ahead of Pau Miquel and Pogačar. Mads Pedersen, one of the main favourites for this type of finish, had to settle for fourth.
After an impressive 10th place in the opening time trial, Brennan converted his first genuine sprint opportunity in a Grand Tour into victory in Manosque. He also took over the white jersey as the best young rider and now sits third overall.
Gall loses time before the first summit finish
Pogačar continues to lead Van Aert by nine seconds. Brennan is ten seconds behind, while Primož Roglič trails his Slovenian compatriot by 26 seconds after the opening two stages. The gaps between several of the main contenders therefore remain small ahead of the first mountains.
The start has been less encouraging for Felix Gall. The Austrian lost 46 seconds to Pogačar in the time trial and conceded another 18 seconds on stage two. He is now 1:08 behind the race leader.
Gregor Mühlberger is currently the highest-placed Austrian, sitting 1:01 off the lead. For Gall, whose climbing ability makes him a contender for a high overall finish, Monday already offers the first chance to regain some of the lost ground.
First summit finish awaits in Font-Romeu
Stage three takes the riders 174 kilometres from Gruissan to Font-Romeu. The first half is relatively flat before the road begins to rise steadily towards the Pyrenees.
The Col de Mont-Louis begins around 36 kilometres from the finish. The climb is 19.4 kilometres long at an average gradient of 4.8 per cent, with the classified summit coming 16.2 kilometres from the line.
From there, there is little respite. The final climb to Font-Romeu is 9.8 kilometres long at an average of five per cent and finishes at an altitude of 1,936 metres. It should provide the first clearer indication of which riders are capable of fighting for the podium at this Vuelta.
Given the relatively moderate average gradient, major time gaps are not guaranteed. Even so, Pogačar has an early opportunity to extend his advantage, while Gall will be looking to move back towards the leading contenders after losing time over the opening two days.
There will be little time to recover afterwards. Tuesday brings another demanding test, with a short 104.8-kilometre mountain stage around Andorra la Vella.
