Tadej Pogacar closed out a supreme 21-day performance to win the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday, crushing his rivals in the 3,400km slog to rack up a fourth title.

The news of Pogacar’s withdrawal will make Jonas Vingegaard the overwhelming favourite for this year’s Vuelta. The Dane has never won a Grand Tour outside the Tour de France, having finished second to teammate Sepp Kuss in 2023, and showed in the final week of the Tour that he is back climbing at his best level.

XRG was part of a breakaway group of six through the streets of Paris, but ultimately had to settle for second place behind Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) on Montmartre. Pogacar has already had twenty tough days,