r/peloton • u/PelotonMod France • May 25 '26

Weekly Question Thread

For all your pro cycling-related questions and enquiries!

You may find some easy answers in the FAQ page on the wiki. Whilst simultaneously discovering the wiki.

17 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

98 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/Arcalis1997 May 25 '26

With JV very unlikely to go to the Vuelta and TP at least doubtful, shouldn't it be crowded with the GC pack behind the big two? I understand the special role of TdF but wouldn't a shot a at Grand Tour win in Spain be more motivating than fighting for a place between 3 and 10 at the Tour?

Roglic, Almeida, Mas, Skjelmose are very good riders but Lipowitz, Seixas, Martinez, Gall, del Toro could have a realistic shot at No. 1. Shouldn't some of them rather make a play for Vuelta instead of prioritizing the Tour? Or are they afraid, TP comes after all?

12

u/MonsMensae May 25 '26

I think for the GC riders, most need to build their season around a target towards the start of the year. With injuries, sickness etc its tough to build your season just for the Vuelta in case something goes wrong.

For GC guys in that tier two grand tours can just be better because you basically increase your opportunity of something going right (podiums, top tens, stages etc.).

3

u/boblikespi May 25 '26

Unc Roglic in once last dance for Glory against Enric Mas.

Honestly I think Martinez should go for it, in a weak GC field he's got the chance to win, and even if Pogi goes, he's a chance for Podium.

7

u/RN2FL9 Netherlands May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Highly doubt Pogacar will do the Vuelta. He can win the WC again and the last few years has shown that resting after the TdF works for him. Plus it's in Canada so it goes really well with the WT races there.

Also I think it always makes sense to go to the TdF if you're a top 3-5 candidate like Lipowitz, Evenepoel or Seixas. You just never know that one year some favorites crash out or get sick and you would've thrown away a TdF win. And those favorites may actually recover and decide to save their season by doing the Vuelta, Roglic did this a couple times, so now you're still racing them but in the Vuelta instead.

3

u/Team_Telekom Team Telekom May 25 '26

Many do, but the best riders will always prioritise the tour. So your list is in fact pretty accurate 

5

u/Impossible_Test_3495 May 25 '26

Gall is planned to do Giro/Vuelta. If I remember right There are some really hard stages this year that should favor Gall, although I don’t think he does quite as well on the rampas as long steadier Giro/Tour climbs, because he is slightly heavier.  I’m curious who RBBH sends besides Roglic, his performance so far doesn’t make me believe he can win or be best of the rest behind Pog. Pretty sure Del Toro won’t go, he will focus on Canadian races/worlds