Tadej Pogačar wasted no time stamping his authority on the 2026 Vuelta a España, winning the opening 9.4km individual time trial through the streets of Monaco by the slimmest of margins on Saturday.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider clocked 10 minutes and 57 seconds on the short, technical course, bumping Ethan Hayter of Soudal-QuickStep out of the hot seat in the final moments. Hayter finished just 0.09 seconds behind, while Joshua Tarling of Netcompany Ineos took third, four seconds off the pace.
The result means Pogačar will wear the red leader's jersey into Sunday's stage 2, a 214.3km route from Monaco to Manosque in France. The Slovenian, who won the Giro d'Italia in 2024 and claimed his fifth Tour de France title last month, is now chasing a career Grand Tour treble — a feat achieved by only eight riders in history.
"It's a weird feeling to win the time trial on the first stage and by such a small margin," Pogačar said. "I was not expecting it. I'm really happy. This red is a really nice colour."
The defending favourite credited familiarity with the streets of Monaco, where he now lives, for the decisive split-second advantage. "That 0.09 happened when I passed my apartment because that was the most technical part, and I walk and cycle there every day," he added.
Tarling's podium finish carried extra emotional weight. The young Briton was racing just a week after the death of his younger brother Finlay, who was killed in a road accident during the Tour of Portugal. Pogačar revealed he had been hoping Tarling could take the stage win.
"When I was going to the start line I saw that Josh had the best time. I was really wishing he would win today," Pogačar said. "I was going to give my best, but it was a strange moment, I was really rooting for Josh as well. Then I came to the intermediate point and I hear a different name. I hear Ethan Hayter is in front of me by three seconds. So I thought: I will give it everything, but no risks — I'll see what happens."
Primoz Roglič, Pogačar's compatriot and a four-time Vuelta winner chasing a record-equalling fifth title, came in 24th, 24 seconds off the lead — an early setback in his overall ambitions.
The 81st edition of the Vuelta continues on Monday with a 174km stage from Gruissan to Aude in southern France, before the race heads to Andorra on Tuesday and returns to Spain later in the week. The three-week race concludes on 13 September in Granada.
A Vuelta triumph would make Pogačar only the fourth rider to complete a Tour-Vuelta double in the same season, and cement his status as the dominant stage racer of his generation.
Sources
- https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/racing/vuelta-a-espana-tadej-pogacar-claims-stage-1-time-trial-and-takes-the-first-leaders-jersey-in-monaco/
- https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/22/cycling-pogacar-dominates-first-stage-vuelta-a-espana-lay-down-grand-tour-treble-marker
