Cycling: Vuelta a Espana preview

The 79th edition of the Vuelta a Espana will get underway this week with some of the world’s best cyclists set to do battle over 21 stages in Portugal and Spain.

There will be no Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard or Remco Evenepoel in the final grand tour of 2024, which opens the door to some other general classification riders.

Another battle between Team UAE Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike will be on the cards, while Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Movistar could also put a spanner in the works.

The Vuelta a Espana gets underway in Portugal on Saturday 17th August and is sure to provide plenty of excitement over 21 days of racing.

Let’s take a look at some of the main contenders and some of Australia’s big hopes.

Doubts remain over Roglic

Primoz Roglic remains the hot fancy at 3.00 to win the Vuelta a Espana, but there is still a question mark over whether he will start the race.

The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider, who has won the Vuelta on three occasions, has been recovering from a serious injury he suffered at the Tour de France.

Roglic was forced to abandon the Tour de France after stage 12 and has been battling back to fitness ever since.

Even if the Slovenian does make the start line in Lisbon, there will have to be some doubts concerning his overall fitness, and whether he has what it takes to win a grand tour.

Roglic’s participation also has ramifications for Australian Jai Hindley.

If Roglic rides then Hindley will ride in support of him. If not then Hindley could turn out to be Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s main GC hope.

Hindley is currently priced at 41.00 to win the Vuelta.

UAE and Visma ready to battle

The two big rivals are set to clash once again, albeit without Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

Even so, the talent on show is still top level and the battle will be an exciting one.

Adam Yates looks to be UAE’s main GC hope and the Englishman can be backed at 6.00 to win the Vuelta.

He will also have Joao Almeida and Isaac del Toro in his team, both who are capable of launching a challenge for the top spot on the podium.

Almeida is also 6.00, while del Toro is more of an outsider at 34.00.

Visma-Lease a Bike have defending champion Sepp Kuss as their main man, with Wout van Aert and Cian Uijtdebroeks set to work in support of him.

Kuss is also available at 6.00.

Mas in contention

Enric Mas will be out to finally win the Vuelta following three second-place finishes at his home grand tour.

The Movistar rider came second in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and can be backed at 6.00 to come first in 2024.

The Spanish rider will once again have to deal with the expectation of the Spanish public, but this could represent his best chance to silence the critics.

O’Connor eyes podium

Apart from Jai Hindley, Australia’s best hopes in the general classification also rest with Ben O’Connor.

O’Connor has already finished fourth at the Giro d’Italia in 2024 and will have his eyes on the podium at the Vuelta.

He is 51.00 to win the Vuelta but it would need a lot to go his way for that to happen.

Even so the West Australian could have a great Vuelta a Espana in what will be his last grand tour for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.