The third and final Grand Tour of the year begins this Saturday in Portugal. Over the next three weeks, the race will determine who will succeed Sepp Kuss, the American rider from Visma Lease a Bike. With neither Tadej Pogacar nor Jonas Vingegaard in the lineup, there’s no obvious frontrunner for Vuelta a España 2024, making it all the more intriguing to analyze the leading contenders.
If Primož Roglič makes it to the starting line of the Vuelta following his crash in the Tour de France, we’ll see a three-time champion lining up. However, we won’t have a clear picture of the Slovenian’s condition until the time trial in Lisbon. Roglič has a knack for being elusive in his statements, never quite revealing his true form.
With Red Bull now sponsoring BORA-hansgrohe, the team is eager to make a strong impression on the big stage. Ralph Denk and Rolf Aldag have been vocal about their lofty goals for months, especially after seeing Martínez’s performance in the Giro. However, the less-than-stellar Tour de France remains a blot on the team’s record.
Now, it’s up to Roglič—along with Vlasov and Martínez—to seize their opportunities in the Vuelta, where he won’t have to contend with his former teammate Vingegaard or his compatriot Pogacar. For Roglič, the start of the Vuelta also symbolizes a kind of finish line, marking his return from injury. He is priced at +200 to win the Vuelta which is a good value bet.
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Sepp Kuss – Visma Lease a Bike (+400)
Sepp Kuss enters the Vuelta a España as the reigning champion, but this time he won’t enjoy the same freedom that allowed him to slip into an early breakaway last year. Back then, the American surpassed all expectations, surprising not only himself but also his team leaders, Vingegaard and Roglič, along with the entire cycling community in Madrid.
Despite initially stating that he wouldn’t want to endure that level of stress again, circumstances have shifted within the year. After skipping the Tour de France, Kuss returns to his favorite race, the Vuelta, as the team leader for Visma Lease a Bike.
In the Tour of Burgos, a key warm-up event, Kuss secured the overall victory, demonstrating his strong form. This success boosts his confidence and that of his fellow climber, Cian Uijtdebroeks, as they prepare to start in Lisbon.
The British rider played the role of super-domestique for Tadej Pogacar during the Tour de France, just as he did last year. However, before that, Yates showcased his own winning potential in the Tour of Switzerland, where he shared the honors with his teammate Almeida—an effort that served as a litmus test for the upcoming Vuelta a España.
In Spain, Yates will have the opportunity to unleash his explosive climbing skills as a co-leader, aiming for overall victory, much like his brother Simon did in 2017. Yates last competed in the Vuelta in 2021, where he finished fourth while wearing the INEOS Grenadiers jersey.
If there’s one rider who will be particularly motivated at the start in Lisbon, it’s João Almeida of UAE-Team Emirates. How often does the opportunity arise to begin a three-week stage race on home soil, especially as the leader of one of the world’s top teams?
Given this rare chance, we can expect an Almeida who rides with determination from the very first stage. The Portuguese rider will rely on his strong time-trialing skills and steady pacing at both the start and finish of the Grand Tour, while managing the challenging Spanish mountains at his own rhythm in between.
Almeida has competed in the last two editions of the Vuelta, finishing fourth in 2022, though last year he had to settle for a slightly disappointing ninth place.
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Starting out in the betting industry, Henry later found his calling in sports writing. Specializing in soccer, golf, and darts, he also offers insights into a wide array of sports across the globe. After earning a BA Honors degree in Business and Management, Henry advanced through the ranks at William Hill in England. His career isn't just limited to sports; he's also made a mark in Property and Finance, fields in which he remains engaged. Henry now resides in Barcelona, where he enjoys playing golf year-round as part of the Real Federacion Espanola de Golf.