From Landa and Carapaz to Almeida and Yates: These top riders are targeting the Vuelta and gearing up for exciting, open battle

This is partly because we won't see the strongest stage racers, such as those on the podium of the recent Tour de France, participating in this Vuelta edition. Tadej Pogacar is tired and resting. Jonas Vingegaard is prioritizing family time as he prepares to become a father for the second time. Remco Evenepoel had a successful Tour debut and is fully focused on the Olympics. Whether Primoz Roglic will participate in the Vuelta is highly uncertain. This opens up opportunities for second-tier stage racers, and we are expecting there to be plenty of those.

Some general classification (sub)contenders have been inactive for two months, having had few or no race days since the Giro finished in Rome. Antonio Tiberi secured a fine fifth place in Italy and is on the start list for the Vuelta, hoping to achieve another great result. We also expect to see second-place finisher Daniel Felipe Martinez and fourth-place Ben O'Connor at the start in Lisbon on August 17. We are still waiting for the final confirmation, but it's likely they will start, representing Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, respectively. Fortunately!

As we continue making our way through the top ten of the Giro, we soon come across Thymen Arensman. The young Dutchman has already ridden the Giro-Vuelta double for the past two seasons and is a logical choice again this year. It might be his chance to lead INEOS Grenadiers. However, he will have some competition from teammates, such as Laurens De Plus, who performed strongly in the Tour, and Colombian Egan Bernal, who hopes to grow towards the Vuelta, after riding the Tour.

Next, we look at those who performed well in the Tour de France or grew during the race. Mikel Landa, for example, the Basque rider representing Soudal Quick-Step, has stated multiple times that the Vuelta is his goal, and he has a good reason for it. He finished a commendable fifth in the Tour. Among the expected Vuelta participants, only Joao Almeida finished ahead of him. 2024 might be Landa's chance to compete for the highest honors. Among the Tour participants, we also find Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian improved day by day, took the polka dot jersey, and won a stage. If he carries that form into the Vuelta, he has an excellent chance of reaching the podium in Spain.

Both these riders will have to contend with the UAE team, which hopes to replicate Visma | Lease a Bike's 2023 feat of winning all three Grand Tours in one year. The UAE team needs to make solid agreements or let the road decide. Joao Almeida, Adam Yates and Juan Ayuso will be there. The first two secured top ten finishes in the Tour, while Ayuso seeks redemption after his withdrawal. There could be internal competition within UAE, especially with their star Tadej Pogacar absent. Also, Enric Mas had a strong final week in the Tour. Expect him to be motivated in his home country.

Visma | Lease a Bike announced early on that Sepp Kuss would defend his title. However, the 2023 winner is not performing at his best this year. He will have to lead on his own this time. If everyone is fit in time, Kuss will have a strong team, including Dylan van Baarle and Cian Uijtdebroeks, the latter possibly taking on a leadership role. The team's situation will not be as luxurious as in 2023.

And Roglic? We might have to rule him out for now. The Slovenia's injuries after his crash in the Tour are more serious than we initially thought. If he does participate, it will only add another crowd favorite. None of the above riders are standout time trialists. With only a little over thirty kilometers of time trials and nine mountain finishes, it remains uncertain who will be fit after the Tour, who can peak a second time in 2024, and who can contend for the 2024 Vuelta throne. We have already seen impressive racing in the Giro and Tour, particularly from Pogacar. Nonetheless, there are enough reasons to mark the Vuelta on the calendar. Amidst the post-Tour lull, we have found a glimmer of light.