It is time for the Vuelta a Espana again and the 2023 edition has a very tough route that demands the last drop of energy from the top favorites.
This year, the Vuelta is all about Jumbo-Visma’s hunt for a unique triple. With Giro winner Primoz Roglic and Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard in the Vuelta squad, the team is chasing the overall victory in Spain. But they have to dethrone Remco Evenepoel.
For the first time in his career, Jonas Vingegaard will ride two Grand Tours in one year. Jumbo-Visma’s goal is therefore clear: to win all Grand Tours in one season. Vingegaard shares the lead with Giro d’Italia winner Primoz Roglic.
Many questions regarding Jumbo-Visma will be about the tactics with two leaders. One absolute leader? The team will not announce that in advance. During the Vuelta, the legs will determine who has to lead. In principle, we dare to say that in 2023 a top-level Vingegaard is better than a top-level Roglic. Especially when we look at the level that Vingegaard achieved in the Tour in the high mountains and in the individual time trial, that was exceptional.
But there are also some question marks. Can he do that again? How does Vingegaard’s body react to riding two Grand Tours in a row?
“Actually, I don’t know anything about that,” he laughed shortly after it was announced that he would also ride the Vuelta. Since the Tour, he has worked towards the start in Barcelona without any altitude training. Is that enough to perform at top level for three weeks?
Primoz Roglic won the Vuelta three times before and suffered a crash last year and he had to retire in the final week. He will therefore come in Spain for revenge. Unlike in previous years, Roglic is not the only leader now.
The advantage for Roglic compared to his Danish teammate is that he has been able to prepare perfectly for the Vuelta in recent months, with enough rest and various altitude training sessions. Last week he concluded that preparation with the Vuelta a Burgos, where he won three stages and the final classification.
Will this year’s route suit Roglic? Many mountains and also steep, vicious climbs where he can use his explosiveness well. The team time trial is an advantage for him and for Vingegaard, while in the individual time trial he will have to limit the damage against Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. In recent years, Roglic also had to rely on his sprint, but against a much improved Evenepoel it will be exciting on the difficult arrivals.
