Pogačar and Vingegaard Are Undeniably Incredible, But This Year’s Vuelta Is More Exciting Without Them
La Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour of the season, has proven to be one of the most exhilarating races of the year, even in the absence of cycling’s premier stars, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.
This year’s Spanish race has delivered edge-of-your-seat drama, reaching a crescendo on Stage 16. Here, race leader Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) found himself in a nail-biting chase against the clock after Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) crossed the finish line nearly a minute ahead. O’Connor’s lead shrank to a mere five seconds over Roglič, heightening the suspense.
O’Connor, chasing his first Grand Tour win, faces fierce competition from Roglič, who is eyeing his fifth Grand Tour and fourth Vuelta title. Meanwhile, Enric Mas (Movistar) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPostNL) are also within striking distance, each within a minute-and-a-half of the leaders, adding further intrigue.
The excitement this year raises a provocative question: Is WorldTour racing more thrilling without its top stars? For O’Connor, the answer seems to be yes.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable,” O’Connor told Eurosport after Stage 14. “You feel super involved in the race, which is one of the best things. When those two boys are there, and they are a class above, it can be hard because you never have that opportunity. I’ve had this jersey for ten days now, which wasn’t impossible in the Giro. It’s been a pleasure to be here and have that shot.”
But are O’Connor, Roglič, Mas, and Carapaz truly on the same level as cycling’s biggest names?
Not quite.
O’Connor is a solid GC contender but has mostly fought for podiums rather than victories over his seven WorldTour seasons. Carapaz, while a Grand Tour winner (2019 Giro d’Italia), has recently focused more on stage wins and KOM titles than on GC challenges. Mas has demonstrated potential but has yet to clinch a Grand Tour victory.
Roglič, while a formidable rider and a three-time Vuelta winner, doesn’t possess the same certainty of victory that Pogačar and Vingegaard have brought to recent races. His presence alone does not guarantee a conclusion to the race.
Pogačar and Vingegaard, two of the most dominant riders in recent years, have set a high bar with their performances, particularly in the Tour de France. Their absence from this year’s Vuelta has left fans pondering whether the race is more compelling without them.
This Vuelta has indeed shown that, sometimes, the unpredictability of racing can be just as thrilling. As legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski once said, “Reality TV is not reality. Sports is.” The uncertainty and drama of this Vuelta prove that, even without cycling’s superstars, the excitement remains palpable.
Cycling, especially over the length of a Grand Tour, often sees the favorites prevail. This year’s Vuelta, with its closer competition and shifting dynamics, has reminded us that the thrill of uncertainty can be just as engaging as witnessing dominant performances.
O’Connor, a charismatic competitor featured in the latest season of Netflix’s Tour de France: Unchained, may not reach the heights of Pogačar and Vingegaard, but his presence, along with those of Mas, Carapaz, and Roglič, has created a captivating race.
So, while the absence of cycling’s titans might make for a different race, it has certainly delivered a captivating one. This Vuelta offers both close competition and historic potential—an enticing combination for fans of the sport.
