The Vuelta is already shaking out and the early stages are revealing a lot about who is actually in the mix. We have Roglic, a four-time winner, dealing with the fallout of a crash, while Felix Gall is already seeing gaps. Gall was a pre-race podium favorite after finishing second at the Giro d'Italia, but losing 18 seconds on stage 2 alongside Almeida is a blow to that momentum.
The real head-scratcher for me is the INEOS roster. They chose Oscar Homley, who won at Vuelta a Burgos and rode the 2025 Tour, but they left Andrew August at home. August won the Czech Tour and has been in undeniable form, yet he is not here to help the team. With his move to Q36.5 coming next year, you have to wonder why a rider with that kind of snap and current momentum is missing from the start list.
In a race where positioning and raw power matter, leaving out a winner in form seems like a tactical gamble. If you have a rider who can punch and deliver results, you put them in the race to maximize the team's options.
Given his win at the Czech Tour and his current form, should INEOS have left Andrew August at home for the Vuelta?
On a separate note, do you think Roglic's experience as a four-time winner is enough to override the impact of his recent crash?