Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar is set to return to the Vuelta a España this August, marking his first appearance at the Spanish Grand Tour in seven years. The announcement came from his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad as they revealed their rider lineup for the 81st edition of the race.

Pogacar, 27, who recently secured his fifth Tour de France title—equaling the record for the most wins—and captured the Giro d’Italia crown in 2024, will race in the Vuelta as part of his pursuit to complete a trio of Grand Tour victories. The Vuelta remains the only Grand Tour that the Slovenian has yet to win.

The race begins on August 22 with an individual time trial in Monaco before passing through France and Andorra en route to Spain. Pogacar’s participation signals his intent to pursue what has been described as a career-defining "Grand Tour hat-trick" or "grand slam," a feat achieved by winning all three Grand Tours—including the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España—at different points in a rider’s career.

“It was my first ever Grand Tour back in 2019 and an amazing experience,” Pogacar said in reference to his debut at the Vuelta. “Spain is a country I love to visit and race in and I think the time is right to go back. The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way and the Vuelta will be a big target.”

Having initially competed in the Vuelta at the start of his Grand Tour career, Pogacar’s return comes after a period focused mainly on the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. His renewed focus on the Vuelta underscores the strategic ambition to complete his collection of Grand Tour titles.

The Vuelta a España is known for its challenging routes, which test riders with a mix of mountainous terrain and time trials, making it a rigorous test of endurance and versatility. Pogacar’s participation adds a significant competitive edge to this year’s field, with fans and experts watching to see if he can add this final major victory to his already distinguished career.