Tadej Pogacar to return to competition in Spain but set to miss Vuelta

UAE Team Emirates reveal Slovenian rider's programme for remainder of 2022 season

UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 17 of the 2022 Tour de France on Wednesday, July 20. Reuters

Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Jonas Vingegaard. EPA

UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar enjoys a drink after winning Stage 17. Reuters

Tadej Pogacar ahead of Jonas Vingegaard in their race to the finish line. Reuters

Front to back: Brandon McNulty ahead of teammate Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma. AP

Brandon McNulty, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard lead the stage. AFP

Brandon McNulty, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard lead the pack. AFP

Brandon McNulty sets the pace for his teammate Tadej Pogacar, with Jonas Vingegaard behind. AP

Team DSM rider Andreas Leknessund Stage 17. AFP

Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, with teammate Sepp Kuss, climb Hourquette d'Ancizan pass. AP

Wout Van Aert, in green, with of Jumbo Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard, in yellow. EPA

A spectator waves a French flag as he watches, left to right, Mikkel Bjerg of UAE Team Emirates, Wout Van Aert of Jumbo Visma, Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo Visma, Sepp Kuss of Jumbo Visma and Brandon Mcnulty of UAE Team Emirates. EPA

The peloton on the ascent of Col d'Aspin. AFP

Jumbo-Visma's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard on the ascent of Hourquette d'Ancizan. AFP

Jumbo-Visma's Wout Van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard during Stage 17. Reuters

The Peloton during Stage 17. EPA

The peloton during Stage 17. Reuters

The peloton pass sunflower fields during Stage 17. AFP

Race leader Jonas Vingegaard with second-place Tadej Pogacar at the start of Stage 17, a 130km ride from Saint-Gaudens to Peyragudes. AP

UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar is all set to return to competition in Spain this weekend after finishing second in an enthralling Tour de France on Sunday.

The Slovenian rider was denied a third successive Tour title by Jonas Vingegaard, after losing a number of key team members during the competition, either to Covid-19 or injury.

However, the 23-year-old will be back on the road this weekend at the San Sebastian Classic in northern Spain before taking a break.

"The 23-year old will be in action as soon as next weekend for the San Sebastian Classic in the Basque Country before taking a break and building up towards a block of one-day races," UAE Team Emirates said in a statement.

Pogacar will not take part in the Vuelta, which starts on August 19, as he builds towards the world championships in Australia at the end of September. He is then scheduled to defend his title at Il Lombardia.

Following the Il Lombardía, Pogacar and his fellow teammates will return to the UAE for one final warm-weather training camp before the curtain falls on the 2022 season.

Following his second-place finish at the Tour de France, Pogacar said he was pleased with the effort his team put in.

"I can be really happy with this Tour de France,” Pogacar said.

“For sure we wanted to win, but also the second place and three stage wins is something to be proud of. I am looking for new challenges. Stage wins are always incredible in the Tour. It's something I cannot describe. For me, that's why it's so beautiful.”

Pogacar lost as many as four teammates during the Tour. Vehard Stake Laengen and George Bennett dropped out after testing positive for Covid-19, while Marc Soler was forced to pull out after falling ill and Rafal Majka got injured.

Pogacar's programme for 2022:

July 30, San Sebastian Classic

August 28, GP Plouay

September 9, GP Quebec

September 11, GP Montreal

September 25, World Championships

October 1, Giro Dell’Emilia

October 4, Tre Valli Varesine

October 8, Il Lombardía