Stage 3 of the 2026 Vuelta is a 174 km hilly route from Gruissan to Font Romeu. Since Pogacar is listed as the favorite for the overall classification, the early summit finish creates an interesting tactical situation for UAE.
There is an argument for him to deliberately avoid wearing the red jersey early on that climb to reduce the pressure on his team. Letting other riders fight for the lead could allow him to stay under the radar while others spend their energy.
Should Pogacar avoid taking the red jersey at Font Romeu to minimize pressure? How will the technical nature of the 9.5 km ITT in Monaco influence the initial GC gaps before this stage?
