Many experts said the 2023 Tour de France was one of the best editions in decades. And they were absolutely right. It was a gift from the Cycling Gods and we thank them profusely.
But there’s a follow-up question that’s flat-out intriguing. What if this year’s Vuelta a Espana is exponentially even more awesome? Those stars are aligning and yes, those stars are on the start list.
It was Soudal – Quick-Step’s DS Klaas Lodewyck who mentioned yesterday that the Vuelta field is arguably stronger than the Tour de France competition and that Remco Evenepoel would deal with the toughest grand tour challenge he has ever faced.
“There are so many leaders. Look at the participant list. Remco, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, Geraint Thomas, Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida: actually that is better than the Tour,” said Lodewyck. “Tadej Pogacar is the only one who is not there. He and Vingegaard were outstanding in the Tour, but the layer below is better in this Vuelta. There are more candidates for the podium here than there were in the Tour. This is the strongest field that Remco has ever raced against in a stage race.”
This is one stacked, star-studded list of GC monsters. I mean yeah, Pogacar isn’t showing up but pretty much everyone else is. It’s actually insane. We’ve always called the Spanish grand tour the Helta Skelta Vuelta because historically it’s a hard race to control and predict. Things get loco and the route is always mucho mountainous.
There’s something like, what, nine, ten serious mountain stages? Barely time to wolf down a few tapas and your sangria before the gradients go over 10% and people start dying.
So we’re in firm agreement with Mr. Lodewyck that this Vuelta a Espana has the potential to blow our minds and drive us giddy with pleasure. I mean, seriously, Jumbo-Visma is bringing both Tour winner Jonas Vingegaardand recent Vuelta a Burgos champion Primoz Roglic to the race that he’s already won three times. Just watching them juggle leadership roles is gonna be another Netflix series.
Remco is going to have his hands full and his legs tested to the max. This will be the acid test for just what marginal and maximum gains have to happen at Soudal Quickstep if they want to support Evenepoel is his stated goal of winning a Tour de France in the next few years.
The Belgian put his squad and team boss Patrick Lefevere on notice. The team has to get better, stronger and smarter or else he will head to Ineos Grenadiers or whatever powerhouse, big-budget organization is ready to promote his aims.
So this edition of the Helta Skelta Vuelta is going to be must-watch stage racing at its best and most unpredictable. We’re expecting chaos and drama from stage one to the finish. Rock on you crazy Vuelta.
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